The chancellor has confirmed government support for a third runway at Heathrow, claiming it will be delivered in line with its ‘legal, environmental and climate objectives’.
In a major speech in which she highlighted the importance of transport infrastructure, chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government was considering a private finance model to fund the £10bn Lower Thames Crossing and reannounced existing plans to support public transport projects outside South East England.
She said: ‘This government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.
‘We will then take forward a full assessment through the airport National Policy Statement. This will ensure that the project is value for money, and our clear expectation is that any associated surface transport costs will be financed through private funding, and it will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.’
The current Airports National Policy Statement was designated in 2018, following the creation of the ‘Airports Commission’ set up by the previous Government, which said the Government’s preferred option for additional runway capacity in South East of England was for a runway at Heathrow.
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK welcomed Ms Reeves' announcement but ‘highlighted the importance of prioritising environmental concerns’.
Paul Le Blond, chair of its Aviation Policy Group, said: ‘Any expansion strategy must prioritise public transport integration, leveraging existing transport hubs and accommodating new rail links.
‘The development should include modernised terminals and new gateway facilities for both the northern and southern perimeters. Crucially, all environmental impacts—including noise, local air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions—must remain within statutory limits.’
However, the expansion of Heathrow proved as controversial as ever in some quarters.
Zack Polanski, Green Party Member of the London Assembly, said: ‘The world is literally on fire, we’ve just seen yet another killer storm sweep across Britain, and yet this Government are putting climate-wrecking expansion and private profits ahead of the welfare of the people.'
Zoë Billingham, director of IPPR North, criticised the chancellor’s focus on the South East of England.
She said: ‘Overheating the South East in the pursuit of upticks in growth that are felt by the few won’t work.
‘We urge the Government to ditch the defaults and lean into a regionally roaring economy. It's time for take-off – but not from Heathrow.’
As part of plans to deliver the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, Ms Reeves confirmed funding towards better transport links in the region including funding for East-West Rail, 'with new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes this year and upgrading the A428 to reduce journey times between Milton Keynes and Cambridge.’
The reference to the A428 was to the longstanding Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme. The Autumn Budget had referred to ‘committing to East West Rail between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge’.
