PAXboy, some good thoughts.
I personally cannot conceive that a third runway at or near LHR will ever be acceptable, not just because of the environmental impacts and demolition in the immediate vicinity but because of the impact on a much bigger area such as increased surface transport and flight paths that go over half of the capital.
My concern (and I do work in the industry so have some interest), is do we really need it. Many arguments seem to focus on "keeping up with the Jones's", that is Paris, Frankfurt etc. The argument goes that, the UK has been very successful in attracting international business because of the pre-eminence of LHR and the ability to move people, products and services around the globe quickly and effectively. However, it does not follow that having the biggest and best airport in Europe is either necessary or sufficient to maintain the country's economic status. I have more faith in the qualities and strength of the UK business environment that to be solely reliant on having the biggest airport.
We should learn to live with what we have got and plan to make the best use of it. Yes, there will need to be expansion at Stansted but there is the opportunity there to build a decent surface transport infrastructure around it - which of course we wont!
2 further points, the Heathrow Express is a very nice "grand scheme" but of no significance to the surface transport issue. Someone do the numbers and prove me wrong but I expect it accounts for only 1% or 2% of passenger/staff journeys to and from the airport. Finally, Paxboy is probably correct in that whatever happens in this review will be the minimalist solution with a view to a second LGW runway in 2019. As has been raised elsewhere, what is the point of not building a second runway at LGW if you are going to build one eventually anyway?