The Treasury has reportedly cast doubts over plans to build a second runway at Stansted, saying it is concerned that BAA cannot finance such a development on a “standalone” basis.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the opinion was expressed in the High Court, where documents were disclosed as part of a legal challenge by Essex and Hertfordshire councils.
A statement by treasury official Sam Beckett reportedly referred to a document about financing new runways at Heathrow and Stansted.
She is quoted as saying: “It is apparent … that the Treasury was concerned that a new runway at Stansted might not be financeable on a standalone basis by 2012.”
The Telegraph reports that the Treasury calculated landing charges would have to double at Stansted, to £6 per passenger, if they were “smoothed” over 30 years.
BAA has reportedly disputed the figures, with a spokesman telling the Telegraph that a second runway could be built by raising charges per passenger “by the price of a Starbucks coffee”.
Opponents to the runway were encouraged by the Treasury statement.
Brian Ross, economics adviser to the Stop Stansted campaign, is quoted as saying: “BAA has said they won’t build the runway unless there is a business case. These documents cast doubt over whether there is one.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
