Aviation:proposals for an airport in the Thames estuary, 1945-2014

Since the 1940s, there have been a large number of proposals to build an airport near or in the Thames Estuary. This note outlines the various on-shore and off-shore proposals that have been put forward, but does not deal with Boris Johnson’s proposals for a new airport on an artificial island in the estuary. The Mayor of London’s proposals in this area are dealt with in a separate note, SN6144.

Background material on the issue is available on the Intranet.