THE AIRPORTS Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, announced on September 2 it would not add the inner Thames Estuary airport proposal -dubbed ‘Boris Island’ - to its shortlist of options for providing new capacity in the South East of England by 2030. Following further detailed studies into the feasibility of the proposal, the Commission concluded substantial disadvantages collectively outweighed potential benefits. Sir Howard said: “We are not persuaded that a very large airport in the Thames Estuary is the right answer to London’s and the UK’s connectivity needs. While we recognise the need for a hub airport, we believe this should be part of an effective system of competing facilities to meet the needs of a widely spread and diverse market, like London’s.” He added that there were serious doubts about the delivery and operation of a very large hub airport in the Thames estuary as well as huge environmental hurdles, which could prove impossible, or very time-consuming, to overcome. The Commission said “even the least ambitious version of the scheme would cost between £70 and £90 billion, with much greater public expenditure than involved in other options – probably some £30 to £60 billion in total.”
The Commission will continue its appraisal of the three other shortlisted proposals for additional capacity, leading to the publication of its final report in summer 2015, after the next General Election:
• an additional runway to the south of the existing one at Gatwick