Secret Plans For 'London West' Airport - Sky News

Alternatives To Heathrow Expansion

Updated: 3:56am UK, Sunday 02 September 2012

Prior to details of the new 'London West' airport proposal being revealed, a series of other options were put forward to alleviate Heathrow's congestion.

:: Boris Island

Possibly the most prominent among the potential alternatives is a proposed new airport on a manmade island off the Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary.

Named after the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, after he announced a feasibility study in 2008, its advocates point out it would avoid more noise and pollution around London.

:: RAF Northolt

Just 13 miles away from Heathrow, the expansion of the Ruislip base is an option under examination by officials.

It is suggested business flights could land at and take off from Northolt, with a possible high-speed rail link to Heathrow.

:: Birmingham Airport

Bosses at the Midlands airport - which is less than two hours' drive for around half of the UK's population - have said it could present a realistic alternative to a third runway at Heathrow.

They say it already has planning permission for an extension and that an additional nine million passengers could be accommodated there with little difficulty,

:: High-speed rail

Various high-speed rail links, to destinations including the north of England, Scotland and northwest Europe, have been proposed by the UK's three main political parties.

:: Reduce demand

The favoured option among environmentalists, a reduction in demand, would involve encouraging would-be air passengers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through personal carbon trading.