Heathrow recommended for new runway

Will Heatrow or Gatwick get the recommendation? Credit: ITV Meridian

The long-awaited recommendation on whether Heathrow or Gatwick should get a new runway has come down on the side of Heathrow.

The two competing airports have been involved in long running campaigns to try and persuade the government to expand their respective airports.

The choice came to three options - a third Heathrow runway, extending an existing one or building a second runway at Gatwick.

The Airports Commission, headed by Sir Howard Davies,has published its final report. It received more than 50,000 responses from individuals and organisations about which airport should receive the new runway.

In a recent interview with ITV Meridian, Richard Branson said that Heathrow was "the obvious choice". But Gatwick supporters and Heathrow critics have said that any expansion at Heathrow would be "unlawful" as it would exceed strict European air quality limits.

Protestors against Heathrow expansion last month Credit: ITV Meridian

The Government is not expected to decide whether to accept the Commission's recommendation for months. There have been suggestions that the Government could delay its decision until after next May's London mayoral election.