No third runway for Heathrow

Many NGOs had argued against the planned third runway, saying that it would make a mockery of the goals of the Climate Change Act and led to a surge in emissions from aviation.

Last year celebrities including Alistair McGowan and Emma Thompson turned eco-warrior, lining up to buy small plots of land in a field on the perimeter of the airport with the intention of holding up the process by fighting any compulsory purchase order.

London’s Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson has also spoken of his opposition to Heathrow expansion – though he has said he would like to see additional capacity at other airports serving the city.

Former Ecologist editor turned Tory MP Zac Goldsmith had made opposing Heathrow expansion an election campaign issue, pledging to step down if the runway went ahead.

Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world and acts as a hub connecting Europe to America, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Sam Bond