The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has stated that the plans for a controversial third runway at Heathrow airport will not now be pursued, nor will expansion take place at Gatwick or Stanstead.
The scheme to introduce a further runway at Heathrow, which had been heavily supported under the former Labour government, was described as "untenable in law and common sense" in March by high court judge Lord Justice Carnwath.
It was felt that the economic modelling forecasts, the impact of noise and air pollution to the residents living under the flight paths and governmental commitments to reducing carbon emissions all made the airport expansions unfeasible.
Both parties in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition government had made manifesto pledges to abandon the contentious expansion plan.
Welcoming the government's commitment to abandon Heathrow expansion, John Stewart, Chair of the campaign group HACAN, said: "The third runway is now dead in the water.It is good news for London. A third runway would have been bad for the capital's environment and was not essential for its economic well-being. A long campaign has ended in victory. We are delighted"
Geraldine Nicholson, Chair of the No Third Runway Action Group, added: "It is a great decision. It means that thousands of people will not be forced out of their homes to make way for a new runway. Our task now is to regenerate Sipson and the other villages which have lived with so much uncertainty in recent years."
The Prime Minister, along with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, has laid out plans to introduce a high speed rail network which would reduce the need for much domestic air travel.
He has also proposed measures to introduce and promote 'wildlife corridors' and green spaces which would preserve and protect habitat in order to increase biodiversity which is currently diminishing; the introduction of smart meters and a smart grid which would increase the efficiency in which electricity is delivered to domestic energy consumers and the inception of a green investment bank which, it is intended, will finance low carbon transport, construction and energy schemes.
Both parties have differing views on the issue of nuclear energy. Rather than expressing any plans on the matter at this moment in time, they have expressed the intention to increase the proportion of energy created from waste materials through anaerobic digestion, marine energy and the introduction of a standard which will limit the number of conventional fossil fuelled power stations being built unless they are equipped with sufficient Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facilities.