The government will make a decision on its preferred option for airport expansion next week, Downing Street has confirmed.
A decision will be made by a parliamentary sub-committee, chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May.
However, a final Commons vote won’t be made until the end of next year, allowing ministers time to speak out and debate the decision. This is being seen as an indication the government will favour Heathrow.
A number of senior MPs including Boris Johnson, Zac Goldsmith and education secretary Justine Greening are against expanding Heathrow.
In a letter, May has told cabinet colleagues that once a decision has been taken by the airports sub-committee on the preferred scheme it will then be subject to a "full and fair public consultation" before a final decision is put before the Commons in the winter of 2017-18.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has spoke out today on how another delay will cause damage to the British economy.
"The Government's decision to yet again delay deciding where to build a new runway will cause unnecessary uncertainty for British businesses already struggling with Brexit," said Khan.
"Now more than ever, businesses need certainty and stability in order to make investment decisions and to keep jobs in Britain. Instead they are getting dither and delay.
"Now it's time to get on with building a new runway at Gatwick, which can be built quicker, cheaper, and without the years of legal and political battles that Heathrow clearly faces."
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