Gatwick bidders plan second runway

A new runway could be built at Gatwick instead of Heathrow, as part of plans by companies bidding to buy the airport from BAA.

The Times reported that it had seen a confidential BAA memo to bidders with a section entitled "BAA builds a second runway".

The paper said that 300 homes would have to be demolished if the runway was built, but the environmental impact would be less than if a runway was built at Heathrow.

Meanwhile the Competition Commission yesterday called on the government to amend its aviation policy, effectively endorsing the idea.