The Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) group claims the Government has disregarded the environmental consequences of the proposals.

Lawyers for the SSE will argue the Government misapplied its own policies in breach of assurances previously given.

BAA, which owns Stansted, has admitted the opening of a second runway at Britain's third largest airport will be delayed by two years because of the economic downturn.

It now proposes to open the new runway in 2017, instead of 2015, if it wins planning permission at a public inquiry due to start in April.