The thesis uses a comprehensive case study of the UK airport planning process to generate hypotheses to be tested. The hypotheses are that the use of more formal planning disciplines to the expansion of the London area airports would have allowed a more appropriate solution than those apparently preferred by the government; further, that this change in the planning process would only be beneficial if accompanied by changes in the framework for airport planning. It is seen to be necessary that the ground rules are known and that the interactions between all affected groups and the decision processes are transparent if the final result is to bear a strong resemblance to the project as planned. A possible solution is developed in the case study by using elements of this alternative methodology, resulting in a proposal for an extra short runway at Heathrow.