The ambitious £14bn plan to transform a major UK airport expansion gears for take off! B
Plans to overhaul Heathrow Airport with another terminal could finally be set to take flight.
An ambitious plan worth £14 billion to transform one of the busiest airports in the UK is all set to see the light of the day after more than two decades of public debate.
Heathrow Airport’s third runway could finally be constructed and is likely to be a key element in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ push for economic growth, it has been reported.
The proposal for a third runway at Heathrow, the world’s fourth busiest airport, was first introduced in a 2003 White Paper and received government approval in 2018.
The additional runway would boost the airport’s capacity by 260,000 flights per year, addressing business demand and positioning Heathrow as Europe’s leading hub for tourism and trade.
However, the proposal will need to comply with strict environmental regulations on emissions to prevent resistance from Labour’s eco-focused faction, headed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, reports The Guardian.
While the Ed Miliband of 2024 has rapidly approved massive renewable energy projects, Chapman warns: “All of that progress in terms of carbon emissions on onshore wind and solar is likely to be immediately wiped out by one or two airport expansions.”
The prospect of Heathrow’s expansion looms once more. The CEO, Thomas Woldbye, mentioned in July that they were aiming to “increase capacity from the existing infrastructure” while continuing to develop plans for a new runway.
Paul Beckford, policy director at anti-Heathrow expansion group, Hacan, said: “All of these other south-east airport expansions combined don’t equate to the size of Heathrow’s expansion in its size or climate impact … Building Heathrow’s third runway would be like plonking Gatwick next to the existing site.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are committed to securing the long-term future of the UK’s aviation sector.
“However, all expansion proposals must demonstrate they contribute to economic growth, while remaining in line with existing environmental obligations.”
