Don't despair yet FDF. There are several substantive issues which the Commission has correctly left for Government such as
How does Govt want to see the surface access costs financed?
How does Govt intend to meet its local air quality legal requirements?
How does Govt see the implications for the total carbon budget?
How do the airport and airlines see the closure to 0600 proposal? Is that going to be an acceptable part of the deal which Govt will broker?
Quite apart from the little local political difficulties these are not questions which can be answered overnight and a few months to determine them is reasonable. If the decision slips beyond end 2015, then it's in trouble.