Thousands to miss out on Stansted payments

Thousands of families will miss out on compensation amid plans for a major new runway at Stansted airport.

In a move sparking widespread anger, only 500 properties will benefit from a scheme to pay thousands of pounds to homeowners.

It follows a decision by BAA, the airport's owner, to draw the boundary so tightly that it cuts villages in half, with residents living on one side of the road able to recover the full loss in the value of their homes, while those on the other side get nothing.

Campaigners opposing the plans for the airport, which is due to grow to the same size as Heathrow by 2030, slammed the move and claimed that 12,000 homes in the surrounding countryside have lost an average of £100,000 in value since the Government earmarked Stansted for expansion.

Villages such as Takeley and Sibleys Green will be cut in half by the boundary line.

In May last year BAA said it estimated paying out ?250 million to compensate those affected by the expansion plans. Since then, the company has cut the costs of the project and says it will now only pay out "tens of millions".