The legal battle over Heathrow’s controversial proposed-third runway will go before the UK’s highest court.

It was confirmed today (May 7) that the case will go to the Supreme Court after it granted permission to Heathrow Airport for an appeal over its plans.

In February, campaigners against the expansion scoed a victory in the Court of Appeal, which concluded that the Secretary of State for Transport failed to take account of the Government's commitments to tackling climate change when setting out support for the project in a National Policy Statement (NPS).

The effect of that ruling was that current Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will have to review the NPS to ensure it accords with the Government's commitments on climate change.

Campaigners hailed the ruling as a victory, and said it had "killed off" plans for a third runway for good and that the project is now "politically unacceptable".

But now a panel of justices will be asked to determine whether the decision to give the go-ahead for Heathrow expansion was "unlawful" as a result of the Government's failure to take account of the UK's climate change commitments.

No date has yet been set for the hearing.

Heathrow Airport had previously stated it hoped to open the runway between early 2028 and late 2029.