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Sat, 17 Oct 2026

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 Third runway at Heathrow Airport would drive growth, Healey says

It comes after the prime minister refused to say whether he backed expansion.

* Chancellor John Healey has said that building a third runway at Heathrow Airport has "always been a case for growth".
* Prime Minister Andy Burnham refused to say if he backed the expansion, saying it was a matter for London and Londoners.
* Transport Department is reviewing submissions after consultation closed, with further decisions and announcements to follow.
* Third runway project faces opposition from residents, politicians, and climate campaigners.
* Airport's consortium of owners need explicit backing from Prime Minister before end of year to proceed with project.
* Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye warned that not building a third runway would be a "huge missed opportunity".
* Project has an estimated price tag of £33bn and could see hundreds of homes demolished, rivers diverted, and M25 motorway rerouted through tunnel.