The government has announced that Heathrow will get the go-ahead to expand and build a new runway.

The news will delight those opposed to the expansion of Gatwick, which had wanted to build a new runway.

There will now be anther year of consultation and a final vote by MPs.

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Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "The step that government is taking today is truly momentous. I am proud that after years of discussion and delay this government is taking decisive action to secure the ’s place in the global aviation market – securing jobs and business opportunities for the next decade and beyond."

"This government is taking decisive action to secure the ’s place in the global aviation market" - transport secretary Chris Grayling

He added: "A new runway at Heathrow will improve connectivity in the itself and crucially boost our connections with the rest of the world, supporting exports, trade and job opportunities. This isn’t just a great deal for business, it’s a great deal for passengers who will also benefit from access to more airlines, destinations and flights."

But the decision is guaranteed to be contentious and the government is braced for yet more argument and the possibility of many Conservative MPs opposing its decision.

It will also face claims that all three options will be environmentally devastating.

Gatwick said it was disappointed at the decision. Chief executive Stewart Wingate said:

“We are disappointed as we do not believe this is the right answer for Britain. Gatwick has put forward a credible financIal and deliverable plan for expansion. It is a plan that can guarantee growth and guarantee certainty for Britain. We look forward to studying the full reasons behind the Government decision in detail."

He added: "The challenges facing Heathrow have not changed. Our message today is that Gatwick stands ready to proceed when the time comes.”

Medway council leader Alan Jarrett said the news buried any notion of a new estuary airport.

“Today’s news of the decision to opt for a third runway at Heathrow in a bid to increase aviation capacity in the UK is music to my ears. Medway Council fought hard against proposals to build an airport on the Isle of Grain, for which plans were unrealistic. I am pleased with the outcome announced today, which goes someway in burying any pie in the sky proposals of an estuary airport."

“In my eyes, this marks the end of more than a decade of campaigning against such proposals, but should they for any reason resurface, our opposition to an estuary airport or indeed any similar iteration, remains."

Reports before today's announcement suggested the government was likely to back expansion of Heathrow, with a new runway or an extension of an existing runway.

The proposed expansion was recommended by the Davis Commission who investigated what would be the best way forward to meet spiralling demand. The commission visited Medway during its investigation, eventually ruling it out.

Kent County Council, which opposed expansion at Gatwick, welcomed the news.

Cllr Matthw Balfour (Con), KCC cabinet member for transport, said:

“I am delighted the government has made the correct decision. We supported the Davis Commission findings and this must be the right way to go. If it (Gatwick) is not the right place to have extra capacity, then just being able to do it quicker and at less cost cannot be right."

This is not a short term fix, it is going to be with us for decades to come. It is important to make the right decision now and spend what is needed to make it work - Cllr Matthw Balfour (Con), cabinet member for transport,.

He added: "This is not a short term fix, it is going to be with us for decades to come. It is important to make the right decision now and spend what is needed to make it work."

Backing for Heathrow would be contested by Gatwick, which wants to build a second runway enabling it to take more than 50 million more passengers.

However, there will be relief among residents living in west Kent who have bitterly opposed expansion there.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling acknowledged all three options would be challenged but insisted that all would “open up new opportunities for Britain.”

Background

It has taken many years to come up with an answer to the vexed question of increasing aviation capacity in the south east.

And it is an answer highly unlikely to please everyone - whatever option is favoured by the government.

The Davies Commission was set up in 2012 to carry out an independent assessment of the best way to meet growing passenger demand.

The former Labour government had, in 2010, signalled its support for a third runway at Heathrow. But that position was scrapped by the new coalition government in 2012.

The coalition asked the commission to come up with “ways to add capacity to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s most important aviation hub.”

One of its earliest recommendations was to reject the idea of a new hub Thames estuary airport, championed by the then Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Howard Davies ruled it out as not plausible, too expensive and would take too long to build.

That was a decision greeted with relief by many in Kent and Medway.

The Commission then moved on to consider the options for Gatwick and Heathrow.

Eventually in 2015, the commission gave the nod to Heathrow, concluding that it was the best option.

Gatwick had faced considerable opposition from west Kent with concerns over noise, the impact on the environment and congestion.

The commission concluded a new northwest runway at Heathrow would bring £211bn in economic benefits and up to 180,000 jobs across the UK.

It said the case was “clear and unanimous” for an expansion estimated at £17bn but allow for 250,000 more flights.

But this week’s decision is not the end of the process.

There will now be another year of debate among MPs before the plans take off.