Stansted new runway inquiry delayed for up to two years

10/03/2010

By James Wilson.

It could be up to two years before a decision is reached over a planning application that proposes the construction of a new runway at Stansted Airport, it has emerged.

Issues relating to ownership of the facility delayed the public inquiry, which was originally scheduled to take place in April 2009, and could mean the plans will not be assessed until 2012, communities minister John Denham has said.

Mr Denham commented that the inquiry could not begin until after the general election and called on airport bosses to make their intentions known with regards to the planning application.

Stansted infrastructure and sustainability director Mark Forster responded: "Once the present uncertainty about ownership has been removed, BAA estimates that a period of some 12 to 18 months could be needed to review and update the material currently available."

He added that the application would need to be updated before the inquiry, since it was originally submitted in March 2008.

In other news, industrial action by the PCS union was set to affect Stansted Airport this week.

The UK Border Agency advised travellers to expect delays between 07:00 GMT on Monday (March 8th) and 07:00 this morning.

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