London: The British government approved a new third runway at London's Heathrow airport on Tuesday in a long-awaited decision that has stoked divisions and follows decades of debate over the issue.
The move was hailed by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling as a "momentous step" but sparked protests and threats of legal action from opponents.
Following Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union, the "long overdue" decision would "send a clear message today that Britain is open for business", Grayling told the House of Commons.
The government said the new runway – the capital's first new full-length runway since the Second World War – would "bring economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to $75 billion".
It said up to 77,000 local jobs are expected to be created over the next 14 years, while the airport has committed to create 5,000 apprenticeships over the same period.
But there is strong environmental opposition to the expansion and the approval process could still delay or even block its execution over the coming years. Ministers opposed to the plans have been granted the rare opportunity to voice their dissenting views, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, an outspoken critic of Heathrow expansion. The former London mayor said he would continue to fight the plans, warning that London risked becoming the "city of planes".
"Building a third runway slap bang in the middle of the western suburb to the greatest city on earth is not the right thing to do," he said.
The government rejected a rival bid for a second runway at Gatwick airport south of the capital, backed by current London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
"This is the wrong decision for London and the whole of Britain," Khan said, adding that he would look into the possibility of legal action.
"A new runway at Heathrow will be devastating for air quality across London – air pollution around the airport is already above legal levels of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)."
The decision marks the beginning of a lengthy process before the project can begin in earnest, including a year until it can receive full parliamentary approval.
Business leaders, many of whom have long campaigned for a third runway, say London's five existing airports are not keeping up with rising air travel demand.
Paul Drechsler, president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said the outcome was an "enormous relief" to firms across Britain.
"A new runway at Heathrow is really fantastic news, especially as the country has waited nearly 50 years for this decision," he said.
Budget airline easyJet said it would swell its operations to include an expanded Heathrow airport, which it says benefits the economy and passengers.
But environmentalists are fiercely opposed to any airport expansion in the British capital, parts of which already routinely breach EU air pollution limits.
Campaign group Greenpeace said it was ready to take the government of Prime Minister Theresa May to court, in conjunction with local authorities opposed to the plans.
Activists held a protest on Tuesday in anticipation of the announcement, blocking a fake runway set up outside parliament.
"People are going to be ready to fight this decision," said Annie Wright, of Reclaim the Power, one of the groups joining the demonstration.
The plans also face opposition from West London lawmakers and residents, including Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith who intends to resign and trigger a by-election in his Richmond constituency, the local Conservative Association confirmed.
Goldsmith said the proposal was "doomed and almost certainly not going to be delivered".
Hundreds of homes would have to be demolished to accommodate a third Heathrow runway and the small village of Harmondsworth, on the edge of the airport, would be largely flattened.
On the village green in front of two local pubs, banners had been put up against the expansion.
Paul Cooper, a taxi driver from the village, said: "I feel sorry for the older generation. They don't want to be moving at their time of life. They should be looked after.
"They should give us compensation but I don't know if they will or they won't.
"It's a lovely village. It's a shame it's being knocked down."