Tue, 28 Jan 2025

What's the plan for a third runway at Heathrow Airport?

The chancellor says expanding Heathrow would boost growth, but there is a lot of vocal opposition.

* The UK government is expected to approve Heathrow Airport's expansion, which will involve building a third runway and increasing capacity from 480,000 flights per year to 720,000.
* Critics argue that this will make it harder for the UK to meet its climate change commitments, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves says sustainable aviation and economic growth can go hand-in-hand.
* The costs of expansion are estimated at £14bn, although this figure is likely to be revised, and construction could take up to 13 years.
* Local authorities and nearby residents have raised concerns about the impact on air quality and noise pollution.
* Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hinted that the Labour government may support a third runway, but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said any expansion must be consistent with carbon budgets.
* Supporters argue that expanding Heathrow will boost growth, create jobs, and help UK exports, while opponents say it will displace activity from other regions and increase emissions.
* The Airport Commission estimated that Heathrow's expansion would bring £61bn in benefits over 60 years, but critics dispute this figure.
* The government will need to prove that the plan meets its net-zero by 2050 targets in any planning application.
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