A third runway at Heathrow Airport would be a white elephant under aircraft emissions are also dealt with a think tank has said today.

Next week the government will announce whether it is to give the go-ahead for a third runway.

Today the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) has declared any decision to build the controversial extension to the London airport should only be made if the aircraft that use it meet the industry’s own emission targets.

At present the aviation industry has targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions and noise emissions by 50 per cent and nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent by 2020.

Simon Retallack, head of climate change at the thinktank, suggests the economic advantages of a third runway at Heathrow have been “greatly overstated” while the environmental case against it is “overwhelming”.

“If ministers were to give the runway a green light, this should only be with strict conditions for meeting tough air quality, noise and climate change targets,” he said.

Mr Retallack declared only those aircraft which meet or exceeded the same targets should be permitted to land on the new runway.

“BAA and the airline industry must bear the risk that a third runway will be a white elephant if aviation cannot be made greener,” he added.

“If a third runway is built without these conditions attached, European air quality standards will continue to be breached, noise pollution for households on flight paths will increase and a valuable opportunity will be missed to ensure the aviation industry prepares for a low carbon future.”