Why Stansted and why now?

• National consultation held to find best solution to lack of airport capacity
• Stansted chosen as site for first new runway in the South East
• Focus on sustainable growth

A second runway at Stansted would be the first full length new runway in the South East of England for over 60 years. But why Stansted and why now?

Another runway is proposed at Heathrow too - expected to open around 2020 - but this alone will not solve the severe lack of airport capacity in the South East. Even with an extra runway at Stansted, and one at Heathrow, forecast demand will still not be fully satisfied.

Current lack of capacity will increasingly impact on leisure and business travellers alike. Holidays, short breaks, visiting friends and family will be among the things increasingly difficult to do unless we plan ahead. And our local and regional economy must not be left behind in the global marketplace either as other countries leap ahead and take advantage of the opportunities that aviation brings.

With the need for sustainable airport growth recognised, in 2002 the Government carried out the most extensive public consultation the country has ever seen. In all, over 500,000 responses were received as a range of runway location options in the UK were considered.

In 2003 the Government published its Air Transport White Paper which concluded that the best solution for meeting future demand was two new runways in the South East. The first at Stansted, followed by one at Heathrow as and when strict environmental conditions can be met.

Our plans for Stansted bring that vision to life, and as we focus on the priority of sustainable growth, in terms of environmental credentials, we are at the leading edge of what its possible to do.