Potential airport site included in Government protected-areas list

The Thames Marshes, which are considered of critical importance to migrating birds throughout northern Europe, include the coastline of the Isle of Grain which is central to Lord Foster's £20bn Thames hub airport. An alternative scheme, designed by Douglas Oakervee, proposes building an airport on an artificial island at Shivering Sands which lies in the heart of the Thames estuary and which would also be covered by the NIA.The 12 NIAs announced by DEFRA will share £7.5 million funding for improving animal habitats as part of a Government project to encourage people to become more involved with nature. 

The commitment to the creation of NIAs arose from the 2011 Natural Environment White Paper 'The Natural Choice' which set out proposals to improve the quality of the natural environment across England, halt the decline in habitats and species, and strengthen the connection between people and nature. NIAs are intended to represent a step-change in Government policy to establish a coherent and resilient ecological network.

Spelman announced that "the exciting wildlife projects are the result of different organisations all working together with a common purpose - to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come".

"By announcing extra safeguarding for the Thames Marshes weeks before the launch of the Government’s aviation framework consultation, Caroline Spelman has just made it easier for Government to rule out the Thames Estuary and to revisit its decision on a third runway at Heathrow," said Jon Riley, a planning and aviation expert at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com.

The Government has blocked plans for a proposed third runway at Heathrow. Heathrow's operator, BAA, has recently called for the forthcoming consultation on the Aviation Framework to revisit that decision.