Sir Howard Davies speech, today, on national airport capacity marks eleven months of work by the Airports Commission – at this stage there are no definitive answers but there are some pointers. You can read the whole speech here.
Naturally we’re looking at this interim statement to provide the next instalment in the saga of proposals to build a new airport in or around the Thames Estuary – a proposal that was first made (and rejected) in 1946. Sir Howard clearly states that they no environmentally damaging options would be included. This should rule out a Thames option as it is at the top end of impact to the natural environment as well as the communities that would be affected; we’ll continue to argue the case for no estuary airport.
A particularly striking element of the speech is the recognition of carbon limits even if this is in the context of acknowledging the demand for an increase in capacity in the South East. Squaring the circle between expansion and bringing the carbon emissions of the aviation sector into line in order to meet the UK’s 80% emissions by 2050 will be a key test of the Aviation Commission’s recommendations.
Follow me on twitter
Thanks Gill - by the time the Davies Commission finally reports it will be nearly 60 years since the first Thames airport idea ... conservation is certainly a long game!