 The White Paper does not in itself authorise or preclude any development , but seeks instead to define a " national strategic framework for the future development of airport capacity " over the next 30 years . The principal conclusion is that the two extremes of failing to provide additional airport capacity , and encouraging growth without regard for the wider impacts , are equally unacceptable options . Instead a " balanced and measured approach " to the future of air transport in the UK is adopted . This approach is designed to cater for the forecast growth in demand , thus supporting economic prosperity nationally and enabling ordinary people to travel at reasonable cost , whilst at the same time managing and mitigating the environmental impacts of aviation and ensuring that the costs associated with them are reflected in the price of air travel . The strategy seeks to minimise new airport development by making best use of existing facilities , and specific policies include : 
