Government delays in making a decision on how to raise London airport capacity could put off potential investors in a new Thames Estuary hub.
The claim came after consultation on the vexed issue of increasing the capital’s airport capacity was further delayed last week.
Foster and Partners, the firm behind an ambitious plan for a four-runway airport on the Isle of Grain in Kent dubbed ‘Boris Island’, reportedly warned that there was a limit to how long the plan could continue to be promoted.
Partner Huw Thomas told the Sunday Times: “The problem we face is it’s entirely self-funded. You can only do that for so long.”
Indecision by the coalition is preventing investment funds from Dubai, Kuwait, Singapore and China from making firm financial commitments to a new airport project, the newspaper reported.
Foster and Partners claims to have spoken to 12 potential investors in the airport scheme. It says it will not need any actual funding for a decade but that it does require a firm commitment from government to keep investors interested.