Government considers Thames estuary airport plans

The Government is to hold a formal consultation on plans for a new "super-airport" in the Thames Estuary as an alternative to expanding Heathrow.

Results of the consultation into the proposed airport are expected in March.

The Thames Estuary plans have been backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson to such an extent that the new airport has been dubbed "Boris Island". The airport would be situated just off the Isle of Grain, 40 miles east of central London.

Downing Street said no decisions had been made but ministers wanted to explore all options for maintaining London's status as the world's leading flights hub. Over 130 million passengers pass through London's airports every year. Although no other city comes close to matching that figure, there are concerns that the British capital has little further capacity, especially when it comes to attracting key long-haul flights from the emerging economies of Asia and Latin America.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Mr Johnson said the cost of building the airport itself would not be an issue because there are plenty of potential investors. However, he admitted that funding for transport infrastructure would be much more difficult to attain.

"Heathrow is fundamentally in the wrong place - given the huge disruption it causes to the population of west London - and expanding it would only entrench that mistake further," he said.

He added: "We can't go on expecting Britain to compete with France, Germany and other European countries when we simply can't supply the flights to these growth destinations. We are being badly left behind."