Anger at Terminal 6 plan for Heathrow

Heathrow bosses today published plans to build a sixth terminal at the airport.

The airport's operator BAA said it has to be built to serve the third runway.

But hundreds of houses will be demolished to make way for the runway and the new terminal was condemned by residents.

They said it confirmed their fears that the massive Terminal 5 project, which will be finished in 2008, would not be the last to be built at Heathrow.

John Stewart, chairman of antiexpansion campaign Hacan ClearSkies said: "It would bring even more destruction. It would mean extra land would be needed, more houses destroyed. It would almost be the last nail in the coffin for the existing communities."

He said the Government had "played down" the need for a sixth terminal by not including it in plans last year. "Right from the start campaigners have always said a third runway would be impossible without a sixth terminal," he added. Christine Shilling, of Harmondsworth, and member of the No Third Runway Action Group, said: "My family home where I have lived for more than 30 years could be bulldozed. It is completely immoral."

The third runway will be built between 2015 and 2020 on condition that BAA is able to meet new limits on pollution. If expansion goes ahead the villages of Sipson, Harmondsworth and Harlington will be affected with as many as

700 homes and a primary school demolished.

Plans for a third runway were given the conditional go-ahead by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling almost a year ago.

But today's proposals are the first indication of exactly where the third runway would be sited.

The original plan would have seen more buildings demolished, including two Grade One-listed buildings, a church and a medieval barn, in Harmondsworth.

But BAA has modified the government plans by moving the proposed runway 100 yards east, lifting the threat to listed buildings.

BAA said it was vital to expand the airport to meet demand for flights. It attempted to play down the significance of a sixth terminal, saying it could only amount to "satellite buildings".

Mick Temple, managing director for BAA Heathrow, said: "Heathrow is one of the world's great airports but we recognise that it needs modernising.

"We are proud of the fact that Heathrow offers enormous benefits to the local and national economies, but are also keenly aware that our operations have a significant impact on our surrounding communities."