Controversial proposals to expand Gatwick airport at the expense of hundreds of homes and a large chunk of the green belt were announced today.

The proposals - which include a scheme for two new runways - have been greeted with fury by campaigners who are calling for a public vote on any development.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has published three options for the airport.

They are:

  • Two new runways, one to the south and one to the north, increasing capacity to 115 million passengers a year and creating 58,000 new jobs.
  • A new full-length runway to the south running parallel to the existing one, roughly doubling the capacity of the airport to about 80 million passengers a year and leading to the demolition of 50 houses and the loss of 250 acres of green belt land.
  • A full-length runway about 1,000m to the south of the existing one which could mean the demolition of part of the industrial area to the north of Crawley as well as 300 houses. About 840 acres of green belt land would be lost.
  • Anti-expansionist campaigners are furious and the Gatwick Area Conservation Committee is calling for a public vote.

It is concerned attempts may be made to ride roughshod over the legal agreement between BAA and West Sussex Council that there will be no expansion at Gatwick before 2019.

BAA's chief executive Mike Clasper said the company will abide by the agreement but called on the Government to "make up its mind."

Gary Whitworth, spokesman for the GACC, said: "Today's announcement is the worst possible news and spells double trouble for the people that live in the shadow of the airport.

"Some mornings locals open their windows and breath in pure JP4 jet fuel. We simply could not cope with double the air traffic, double the cars on local roads and double the workers who would need to be housed locally.

"However, I am confident the 2019 legal agreement will be adhered to. No local politician will be foolish enough to abandon it with elections so close.

"I think the Government strategy is appalling. The only answer is for a public referendum on the issue and I know that any expansion would be turned down flat."

Plans outlined today will be the subject of a Government White Paper on aviation presented by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in about four months' time.

Most local MPs are against expansion. Conservatives Peter Ainsworth and Crispin Blunt have denounced plans for a second runway. But Crawley's Labour MP Laura Moffatt sits firmly on the fence and has never made an anti-expansion statement.

Local councils have are also against the plans - Reigate and Banstead, Horley and Tandridge have voiced opposition.

Today's document outlines other options for the South and South-East, including a third runway for Heathrow, up to three new runways at Stansted in Essex, a new airport at Cliffe in North Kent, floating runways in the Thames Estuary and a man-made island airport near the mouth of the River Severn.

Gatwick boss Roger Cato said: "The issue of extra runway capacity in the South-East is one of great importance in the region and the revised consultation gives everyone the opportunity to express their views on Gatwick's future.

"Some local residents will naturally be concerned at the prospect of major development and the environmental consequences that come with expansion. Equally, the region's business community feel long-term expansion at Gatwick is essential to maintain economic welfare and prosperity."

Mr Cato confirmed there would be no going back on the 2019 agreement.

He added: "Looking to the future, we want the Government White Paper to identify a clear policy for Gatwick, identifying its future role within the region's airport system.

"Growth in aviation is vital to the UK economy and it's important to examine the options for longer term expansion at Gatwick in the context of the need to expand airport capacity."