Heathrow third runway axed in victory for campaigners

The company that runs Heathrow airport this afternoon officially confirmed that it had scrapped plans for a third runway.

Operator BAA said all work on the project will cease in what campaigners called "a final victory". It has also abandoned work on a second runway at Stansted.

It marks a triumph for environmentalists and residents opposed to the runways across the South-East but will be seen as a major blow to business and the aviation industry.

The Lib-Con coalition government is opposed to the Heathrow expansion and BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said: "We recognise the importance of government policy in a matter as significant and controversial as runway capacity."

BAA will stop buying properties in Sipson, the village in the path of the runway, but has left open a scheme to reimburse locals who wish to sell their homes because of blight. "It is no longer appropriate for us to purchase properties. Equally important is our intention to stand behind our commitment made to provide time for those local residents who wish to sell their properties to us to do so," said Mr Matthews.

Edward Lister, leader of Wandsworth council and of a group of local London councils against the runway, said: "This is the final victory. It is great news that BAA have finally seen sense. This is great news for people living in west London. An additional runway with all the noise and pollution would have been devastating for their quality of life."

Campaigners against the runway included new Tory MP Zac Goldsmith who won his Richmond seat campaigning against it. Actress Emma Thompson and impressionist Alstair McGowan were also involved in the battle.

Geraldine Nicholson of one residents' group opposed to the runway said: "I'm overwhelmed, gobsmacked. We've fought for this for eight years. We're all over the moon. It was one fight worth taking on."

John Stewart of pressure group HACAN said: "This is a double blow for BAA, whose strategy is now in tatters. It is the right outcome for the people though."

HACAN also said it was particularly pleased today by the news on Stansted. The Government had clearly stated that Heathrow's runway would be scrapped but had not been so categorical about Stansted, which Mr Stewart said meant the Stansted expansion could have been eventually approved after a public inquiry process.