Businesses and travel organisations have reacted in anger at the government’s delay in reaching a decision on airport expansion until “at least next summer”.
Prime minister David Cameron had promised a decision on whether to take the recommendation of the Davies commission and build a third runway at Heathrow or a second runway at Gatwick by the end of the year.
However, yesterday the transport minister Patrick McLoughlin said further research on environmental impacts was needed.
Business groups including the CBI, EEF and BCC all widely criticised the move and said further delays will damage the economy and leave Britain further behind on airport capacity.
John Longworth, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said businesses would see it as a “gutless move by a government that promised a clear decision on a new runway by the end of the year”.
He said: “Business will question whether ministers are delaying critical upgrades to our national infrastructure for legitimate reasons, or to satisfy short-term political interests.”
Terry Scuoler, the chief executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “By avoiding a tough decision, despite a well evidenced shortlist, the government has again dithered and avoided the issue. Industry is fed up and dismayed by the continued excuses and political dilly dallying.”
Meanwhile, Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI director general, said delaying the decision “on an issue of critical importance to the future prosperity of the UK is deeply disappointing”.
“We urgently need to increase our runway capacity to spur trade growth, investment and job creation. Just eight new routes to emerging markets could boost our exports by up to £1bn a year,” she said.
The GTMC said: “The airport expansion decision delay is both frustrating & damaging; there's a real & urgent need for greater air capacity to/from the UK.”
‘Defining moment’
Internal politics have also been blamed for the delay following Tory London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith’s pledge to quit if Heathrow expansion is given the green light. Current mayor Boris Johnson has also been one of the influential Conservative members who has spoken out against Heathrow.
Gatwick's chief executive, Stewart Wingate, called the decision a “defining moment” in the debate.
"We have always maintained that this decision is about balancing the economy and the environment,” said Wingate. “Expansion at Gatwick would give the country the economic benefit it needs at a dramatically lower environmental cost.
"We are glad that the Government recognises that more work on environmental impact needs to be done. Air quality, for example, is a public health priority and obviously the legal safeguards around it cannot be wished away,” he added.
A statement from the Department for Transport said the “location decision” for extra airport capacity would be “subject to further consideration on environmental impacts and the best possible mitigation measures”.
McLoughlin said: “The case for aviation expansion is clear but it’s vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come. We will undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon.
“We must develop the best possible package of measures to mitigate the impacts on local people. We will continue work on all the shortlisted locations, so that the timetable for more capacity set out by Sir Howard is met.
“At the first opportunity I will make a statement to the house to make clear our plans.”
The announcement means all three shortlisted options are still on the table, including a second runway at Gatwick.
Click here to see the plans for an expanded Heathrow