Support for a third runway at Heathrow will only restart a lengthy process, reports Ian Taylor
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to confirm government support for a third runway at Heathrow today (Wednesday), having signalled approval for the expansion in a BBC appearance on Sunday.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum last week, Reeves insisted “growth comes before any priority” and “trumps” other priorities, including on the environment.
Her speech on Wednesday was due to reveal not only support for Heathrow but for a series of infrastructure projects, with the government promising “150 decisions on major economic infrastructure” in this Parliament.
These were expected to include support for bringing a second runway into use at Gatwick and doubling capacity at Luton.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander had been due to decide on Gatwick’s plans next month and Luton’s by April 3.
The airport expansion decisions appear to have been pushed forward as the government struggles to convince business leaders it’s serious about driving economic growth amid corporate anger at increased costs imposed on business in the Budget.
As recently as December, a ‘senior government aide’ had suggested a Heathrow third runway “is not a priority”.
Heathrow will need to seek a development consent order to begin the planning process on expansion, having been reluctant to revive the plans post-pandemic without clear government backing.
However, work on the runway is not likely to start for some time – 2030 is touted as the earliest it might begin.
Expanding the three London airports is forecast to increase capacity by 62 million passengers a year at Heathrow, 34 million at Gatwick and 14 million at Luton.
Legal challenges appear certain, although the Treasury promised “sweeping reforms” to planning rules on infrastructure projects this week in a Planning and Infrastructure Bill to be introduced this spring.
That followed a pledge from the prime minister’s office last week to stop campaigners “blocking infrastructure projects with continued legal challenges”.
Judges will gain powers to limit appeals where a High Court hearing “deems a case ‘totally without merit’”.
The government has consistently said airport expansion must meet four tests – on carbon emissions, noise, air quality and growth – with those on emissions and air quality likely to be most challenging.
But the Supreme Court overturned an Appeal Court ruling in 2020 that the then government’s statement in favour of Heathrow expansion was unlawful as it failed to take adequate account of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
There was a less than enthusiastic reaction to the prospect of Heathrow expansion from Luis Gallego, chief executive of British Airways parent IAG which holds 56% of the slots at Heathrow.
Speaking at an Airlines UK event last week, Gallego insisted: “The situation at Heathrow needs to change. It’s the most expensive airport in the world, but the experience for passengers doesn’t match this.
“The last review of its business model was 15 years ago. We wouldn’t support [a third runway] with the current regulatory model.”
The government of David Cameron agreed to back a third runway at Heathrow as long ago as 2015, so the Chancellor’s backing does not make it a done deal. But Reeves does need something to boost the UK’s GDP figures. It just won’t be quick.