The government has given the green light for a third runway at Heathrow to expand UK airport capacity. The Heathrow approval puts UK’s business above political and environment issues. Today’s approval sees Heathrow get a new runway to the north-west of the current runway.
The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling said the decision was "truly momentous" and vital to keeping the UK open for business. He also started that the economic benefits would be worth up to £61bn, as well as creating up to additional jobs for 77,000 people.
Heathrow management said the airport was ready to deliver a third runway that was "fair, affordable and secures the benefits of expansion for the whole of the UK”. It was also announced Heathrow will pay 25% above the market price to people whose homes have to be demolished as well as all costs, including stamp duty.
PM Theresa May said the decision will boost Britain post-Brexit. She said: “After decades of delay we are showing that we will take the big decisions when they’re the right decisions for Britain. Airport expansion is vital for the economic future of the whole of the UK and today also provides certainty to Londoners. Businesses will know that we are building the infrastructure they need to access global markets.”
The Shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald called today’s decision a “disaster”, he said: “Labour has consistently been in favour of building an additional runway in the south east of England. But this support has always been conditional on four tests being met: on capacity, climate change, noise and air quality and the wider national benefits. Today’s announcement, heralding another consultation, does not yet do that.”
Now a public consultation will be held on the effects of airport expansion before the government makes a final decision as part of a national policy statement on aviation. As per the timetable, MPs will vote on that decision in the winter of 2017-18. Construction is not likely to begin until 2020 or 2021. The new runway won't be operational until 2025.
In a related news, as we went to print the former London mayoral candidate and Conservative MP for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith quit in protest after the government gave the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow. His resignation now forces a by-election in the south-west London seat. Goldsmith is expected to stand as an independent candidate. His resignation has created a dilemma for the Tories about whether to stand a candidate against him. Goldsmith's local Conservative association confirmed he would honour his longstanding pledge of quitting before the decision was made today.
Following Grayling’s statement in the House of Commons Zac Goldsmith stood up in the and condemned the decision. “The government has chosen a course that is not only wrong, it is doomed. It’s wrong because of the million people who will suffer on the back of the environmental harm this project unavoidably produces and doomed because of the complexities and costs and legal complications means this project is almost certainly not going to be delivered.”
Virendra Sharma MP of Ealing Southall told Asian Voice, “I’ve changed my mind on Heathrow expansion for the simple reason that Heathrow have engaged, listened and changed their plans. Now that Heathrow has accepted the Airports Commission conditions, West London can say ‘yes’ to the jobs, apprenticeships and investment that expansion will bring. Heathrow is the backbone of the West London economy and now that there is appropriate mitigation and compensation in place for local communities, I’m pleased that the Government have made the right decision.”
