Stansted runway delayed for years

STANSTED'S hugely controversial second runway has been hit by delays. The owners of the Essex airport said the runway would not be ready until 2013 at the earliest, two years later than planned. However, they said even this was a 'challenging target' and the date could slip several more years.

The admission came today from airport chiefs at Stansted's operator BAA in a briefing for City analysts and shareholders. Alastair McDermid, project director for the runway, said the delays were caused by 'the complexities and challenges thrown up by road, rail and regional planning'.

As a result, 'the project has moved at a slower pace than originally expected. Consequently, we now see 2013 as the earliest completion date and that itself is a challenging target,' he said.

One of the problems is thought to be how the rail link from Liverpool Street will cope with the extra passengers using Stansted. BAA has already invested £13million in early design and preparation for the planning application for the new runway, and £16m on property compensation. Public consultation on BAA's proposed location for the new runway is due to start in November and an environmental impact assessment, together with public consultation on the airport draft final masterplan, will take place in autumn next year.

The planning application in 2007 will be followed by a public inquiry, after which the Transport Secretary will make a final decision. The Government gave the go-ahead to the runway in its White Paper in December 2003 in response to forecasts of sharply rising passenger demand in the next decade.

However, there has been intense local opposition with the backing of celebrities such as Jamie Oliver. Today Carol Barbone, campaign director for Stop Stansted Expansion, said: 'This news calls into question the wisdom of building a white elephant runway at Stansted at all.'

The airport expects to see 22.2m passengers next year, with the annual figure rising to 35m by 2015. A second runway at Stansted is at the heart of the Government's aviation plans as laid out in the 2003 White Paper.

BAA chief executive Mike Clasper said the first phase of the development was likely to cost about £2billion. The second phase, starting in about 2020 and costing a further £2billion, would eventually lead to 70 to 80m passengers a year by the start of the 2030s.

Mr Clasper said: 'I am convinced this is a do-able and deliverable project.'