Airports operator BAA has put forward plans to double the size of Stansted in Essex, drawing a sharp response from green campaigners who have promised to resort to direct protest action.
BAA says the addition of a second runway and terminal would raise passenger numbers to 68 million a year by 2030, from around 22 million now, and pump some 9 billion pounds into the local economy.
In a planning application unveiled on Tuesday, it said the new runway and terminal would be built on 442 hectares of land and result in 13 listed buildings being lost, although 10 would be dismantled and rebuilt.
But climate campaigners said there was no economic or environmental rationale to the planned expansion.
"It is tantamount to a declaration of war on the local community and the global environment," said Patrick Gillett of Plane Stupid, whose activists chained themselves to the House of Commons roof last month to protest at the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport.
"Plane Stupid is campaigning against airport expansion in general and that includes Stansted. We will be taking direct action," he told Reuters.
The government says airport expansion is vital to the economy and to satisfy the growing desire of people to fly more.
But environmentalists say it goes in the face of the government's pledge to tackle global warming caused by burning fossil fuels for power and transport.
"Doubling the number of flights from Stansted and Heathrow at a time when the scientists are telling us we need to urgently slash our emissions is madness," said Greenpeace campaigner Anna Jones.
"The company will find a passionate majority of people who are ready to fight this runway, for the sake of the local area and their children's future."
