Boris Johnson let off hook as Heathrow expansion plans are blocked but what will happen now?

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JUDGES today ruled against a third runway at Heathrow to the PMs relief.

The Court of Appeals decision means the project could be delayed for at least another year or scrapped for good.

Boris Johnson once vowed to lie in front of bulldozers to stop a third runway at Heathrow

The Court of Appeal's decision to rule against the expansion means the project will be delayed or scrapped for good - letting the PM off the hook for now

The Court of Appeal’s decision to rule against the expansion means the project will be delayed or scrapped for good – letting the PM off the hook for now

The Government declined to appeal. Ministers insisted any challenge was now a private issue, and that Heathrow would have to make the case on its own.

It means the PM, who once vowed to lie in front of bulldozers to stop the runway, is off the hook for now.

The Court of Appeal ruled the plan was unlawful.

It said former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling failed to consider the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change when drawing up a national policy statement giving the runway the green light. MPs had backed the scheme by 415-119 in 2018.

Plans for a two-mile runway spanning the M25 have been on the cards 17 years.

‘OUT OF OUR HANDS’

Any new legal challenge could take another year.

After todays ruling Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government was still committed to airport expansion but that it must be industry-led and crucially he did not mention a location.

A Government source added: This is very much a case of Over to Heathrow. It is out of our hands.

The airports boss John Holland-Kaye said the issue was very fixable and was confident of success in the Supreme Court.

He added: Heathrow expansion is vital to our countrys future.

Protesters celebrate after hearing the court ruling

Protesters celebrate after hearing the court ruling

But lawyer Angus Walker, at BDB Pitmans, said: Even if they were successful it might be academic, as the Government might by then have decided to review the national policy statement.

Todays challenge was brought by campaigners and London Mayor, Sadiq Khan.

Mr Khan, who backed a third runway when a Labour MP, said: The Government must now finally see sense and abandon these plans.

Q&A: What will happen now?

Q: What does todays ruling mean?

A:The Government ignored the Paris Agreement which pledges to eliminate emissions by 2050. It was signed into law in 2016 and the judges said that it made the vote on the runway in the Commons unlawful.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government was still committed to airport expansion

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government was still committed to airport expansion

Q: Why hasnt the Government appealed against the decision?

A: This is the perfect result for Boris Johnson, who was in the awkward position of running a Government which voted for the runway, while personally pledging to lie in front of the bulldozers to stop it.

Publicly the Government have said the appeal should be done privately by Heathrow but behind closed doors this gives the PM the perfect get-out.

Q: Why is Heathrow Airport appealing against it?

A: Airport bosses say that they have considered the Paris climate deal, even if the Government didnt. They say their plans will meet the environmental targets and are confident of winning the case. But lawyers arent so sure and say their chances are slim.

Q: Could the runway plan still happen?

A: Yes but it will delay the project for at least another year.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the Government must abandon these plans

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the Government must ‘abandon these plans’

Q: What happens if it doesnt go ahead?

A: For holidaymakers in the area, it means more hassle and possibly more expensive flights as they may have to go via Paris or Amsterdam to get to some far-flung destinations. And as Heathrow is already at full capacity, some flights may get bumped for more profitable routes.

Heathrow says 40 per cent of global exports leave from its runways and if we dont agree a deal with the EU, there could be tariffs to pay if they have to go by Europe. Any logjam would have implications on supply chains.

In the short term, no third runway means fewer jobs in construction and in the local area.

Q: What are the other options?

A: A second runway at Gatwick could be revived, or there have been calls for a megahub at Stansted. Both would be simpler to build as they are in more rural locations.

Boris Johnson has suggested an airport in the Thames Estuary east of London but it would be expensive and a logistical nightmare to construct the island. Some are calling for an expansion of Birmingham Airport linked with HS2.

All these options would cost billions, face opposition from environmental and Nimby campaigners, and take decades. The Heathrow fiasco has been running for 17 years.