The UK Government has given the green light for a third runway at London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she supports the scheme.
The Government support could finally end the decades-long process for Heathrow Expansion that successive governments have effectively ‘kicked down the road’.
Ms Reeves told MPs “I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer,” but warned that this was only the start of a long process before work gets underway.
A third runway at Heathrow has been controversial due to its planned location to the north of the current airport requiring the rerouting of the A4 as well as the demolition of hotels and other businesses between the airport and Harmondsworth. This area along with Sipson will also be significantly affected.
The new runway will also cross the M25 requiring a tunnel to be built.
Ms Reeves justified the support by stating that the expansion could potentially create around 100,000 jobs and according to data from Frontier Economics it would increase the UK’s GDP 0.43% by 2050.
Responding to the announcement by the Chancellor Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s support for the aviation industry and recognition of the critical role we play for the economy and in delivering growth across the UK.
“Heathrow is the UK’s gateway to growth and prosperity. A third runway and the infrastructure that comes with it would unlock billions of pounds of private money to stimulate the UK supply chain during construction. Once built, it would create jobs and drive trade, tourism and inward investment to every part of the country. It would also give airlines and passengers the competitive, resilient hub airport they expect while putting the UK back on the map at the heart of the global economy. With strict environmental safeguards, it would demonstrate that by growing our economy responsibly we can ensure our commitments to future generations are delivered.
“This is the bold, responsible vision the UK needs to thrive in the 21st century, and I thank the Government and Chancellor for their leadership. It has given us the confidence to confirm our continued support for expanding Heathrow. Successfully delivering the project at pace requires policy change – particularly around necessary airspace modernisation and making the regulatory model fit for purpose. We will now work with the Government on the expected planning reform and support Ministers to deliver the changes which will set us on track to securing planning permission before the end of this Parliament.”
London Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK) is also hoping to gain Government support for its switch to dual-runway operations which involves moving its second runway (08L/26R), which is currently only used when the main runway is out of use or as a taxiway, slight north to create a wider separation between the two runways.
This would allow Gatwick to use both runways simultaneously by using one for arrivals and one for departures.
Of the two expansions, the Gatwick project requires far less work and if supported, the project could even get underway by the end of 2025.
Together the two expansions could account for 90 million more passengers arriving into the UK each year.
