AIRPORT NEWS takes up much of this issue and here we summarise the most important decisions of the white paper not noted above. Gatwick could get a second runway after 2019 and Luton will be allowed to either stretch its existing runway to 3200m or build a brand new one (and actually get the runway before Stansted). Among other proposals are a new runway in Birmingham (seen here) and a possible one in Edinburgh. In the main the government is backing the development of the smaller regional airports but with the detailed planning consent left in the hands of the local authority.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/aviation/whitepaper