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The British Airports Authority (BAA) has reasserted its commitment to a third runway at Heathrow by offering to purchase all the houses that lie within the proposed construction site, some seven hundred homes.

At first glance, the plan may seem heavy-handed, but the authority is unlikely to face prolonged opposition – homes in the path of the third runway are almost impossible to sell. Huge sums of money have already been earmarked for legal fees and moving trucks.

It is worth noting that the BAA was presented with a similar opportunity in previous years, but balked at the chance to buy up the villages surrounding Heathrow. Residents could be forgiven for thinking that the aviation firm is growing desperate.

Local MP, John McDonnell, was delighted with the development: “The BAA has finally realised what a PR disaster the third runway has been, but before we can kill off this threat, we need to ensure that local families are protected."

Last week, the Conservatives announced a landmark victory over the BAA, claiming that the aviation firm had given in to Tory pressure, and set fire to its runway plans, ending years of speculation.

Unimpressed, the BAA moved to set the record straight, and within a matter of hours, runway plans were back on track. The authority continues to voice concerns about the future of London industry, and the prosperity of the airport itself.

However, without the support of the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats, the BAA stands to lose government backing by the middle of next year, delaying expansion plans for upwards of a decade.

Residents of Sipson and Harmondsworth in London have been given a year to respond to the proposal, due to arrive on their doormat in the coming weeks.