Page last updated at 14:40 GMT, Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Legal fight against airport plans

The Stop Stansted Expansion group wants the decision quashed for environmental reasons

Plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport in Essex which were given the go-ahead by the government are facing a High Court challenge.


Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) lawyers said proper consideration was not given to "adverse effects".

The hearing in London is expected to last three days.

The protest group has accused ministers of disregarding the climate change and noise impact of the expansion.

Nick Barton, BAA

Paul Stinchcombe, for SSE, told the judge, Sir Thayne Forbes, there had been a failure to take proper account of the adverse effects on UK trade and the additional noise that would be suffered.

He said these issues were disregarded, despite the government having acknowledged it was right to consider them when deciding whether to approve the expansion project.

He said: "It would appear this is largely attributable to a simple error of law made by the secretaries of state.

"They decided that matters were immaterial (to the decision-making process) when they were material."

The government is defending the expansion project, saying SSE's arguments were "plainly incorrect". BAA and Stansted Airport Ltd are listed as "interested parties" in the action.

Nick Barton, commercial and development director BAA Stansted, said: "Today's challenge by SSE is against government policy, not the evidence we (BAA) gave to the public inquiry.


"As an interested party, we will play an active role in the hearing but it is ultimately for the government to defend its decisions and policies - and we are confident the government can defend itself very robustly."

Print Sponsor

Stansted expansion fight goes on
09 Oct 08 |  England
Airport expansion gets go-ahead
09 Oct 08 |  England
Trust joins anti-airport battle
07 Sep 07 |  England

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit


Sign in

BBC navigation



Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific