Plans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport will mean an end to all other airport expansion projects across Britain, according to the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).

Environmental safeguards for the proposed new runway at Heathrow outlined by transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, include a target to limit aviation CO2 emissions in 2050 to below the 2005 levels of 37.7 million tonnes. The CBT has said that figures released by the Department of Transport this month show that the only way to meet the targets will be to stop all expansion projects at regional airports, including the proposed second runway at Stansted Airport in Essex.

Stephen Joseph, executive director of the CBT, said: "Either the minister has not done his sums properly, or he is so determined to expand Heathrow that he is willing to cap capacity at every other airport to do it."