But he has made a number of important concessions to the environmental lobby and local residents.

Here are the key points at a glance:

• Limit of 480,000 flights a year from Heathrow, compared to 460,000 last year.

• Increase in passenger numbers limited to an extra 25 million each year.

• New restrictions on noise levels for local residents.

• Stricter controls on night flights, with a decision on new restrictions to come no later than 2003.

• Confirm plans to reduce the number of night flights over built-up areas of West London.

• Promote public transport by extending the Heathrow Express rail link and Piccadilly underground line to Terminal Five, before the new terminal opens.

• Limit the increase in parking spaces to 42,000 in total, rather than the 46,000 proposed by BAA, with 17,500 spaces for staff rather than the 21,700 proposed in the application.

• No widening of the M4 between junction 3 and junction 4b.

• A separate planning process to consider the diversion of the two rivers that cross the Terminal Five site, before work on the buildings begins.

• Ensure the new night flight regime at Heathrow complies with the European Convention on Human Rights.