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Heathrow expansion verdict could be delayed beyond summer Heathrow expansion verdict could be delayed beyond next summer
(about 5 hours later)
The government’s decision on airport expansion in the south could be delayed even further than the middle of 2016, the transport secretary has suggested, despite announcing on Thursday that a likely verdict is due next summer. The final decision on a third Heathrow runway could be delayed even further than the middle of 2016, the transport secretary has suggested.
Patrick McLoughlin admitted on Friday morning that the government’s verdict on airport expansion could be postponed beyond the new deadline of next summer, which was announced on Thursday to widespread anger from business groups.
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Patrick McLoughlin insisted all options were still on the table and that the government was considering proposals for the expansion of Gatwick as well as the building of a third runway at Heathrow – the preferred option of the Airports Commission, led by Howard Davies. McLoughlin said the government was still considering proposals for the expansion of Gatwick, rather than restricting its thinking to building a third runway at Heathrow as recommended in July by the Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard John Davies.
David Cameron announced on Thursday that he was delaying the decision on whether to allow a third runway at Heathrow until summer 2016 because of environmental concerns. The government said it was supporting more airport capacity in the south-east by 2030, as recommended by the Davies commisson. McLoughlin said: “I believe that in the summer of next year we will be in a position to have done the extra work ... I hope that we will be able to make a firm recommendation to the cabinet subcommittee next summer.”
“I believe that in the summer of next year we will be in a position to have done the extra work which I will be doing as the secretary of state for transport, with the Department for Transport and with the promoters of the three schemes,” said McLoughlin. “I hope that we will be able to make a firm recommendation to the cabinet subcommittee next summer.” Downing Street’s promised response to the Davies commission’s recommendation was watered down on Thursday to simply reaffirming the need for more airport capacity in south-east England.
Related: Heathrow expansion: no political will to build third runway, says IAG bossRelated: Heathrow expansion: no political will to build third runway, says IAG boss
He added: “We accept that additional airport capacity is needed and we will make a decision on where we are going on that hopefully in the summer of next year.” The prime minister’s spokeswoman said the government would make a decision “as quickly as possible”. She said: “This is a big decision for our country, but there is this issue around air quality, noise pollution and the environmental impact. And when you’re taking a decision of this magnitude, it is right and prudent to do the thorough work before you take those decisions.”
The prime minister’s spokeswoman said the government would make a decision “as quickly as possible”. “This is a big decision for our country. The cabinet committee that met yesterday did take decisions on the way forward – so agreeing with the Airports Commission on the need for more capacity, agreeing on the particular shortlist of three schemes put forward by the Airports Commission,” she said. The Commons environmental audit committee produced a parliamentary report on 1 December saying final approval should not be granted until the airport demonstrated it could meet key environmental conditions on climate change, air quality and noise. It warned that a failure to deal with environmental concerns could lay the scheme open to legal challenge.
“But there is this issue around air quality, noise pollution and the environmental impact. And when you’re taking a decision of this magnitude it is right and prudent to do the thorough work before you take those decisions.” John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow airport, said he was glad to have the opportunity to “reassure the prime minister he can have the best of both worlds.
The Commons environmental audit committee produced a parliamentary report this month saying final approval should not be granted until the airport demonstrated it could meet key environmental conditions on climate change, air quality and noise. It warned that a failure to deal with environmental concerns could lay the scheme open to legal challenge. He said: “Not only the UK’s best connected hub airport … but we can do it in an environmentally responsible way. We know it’s the right thing to do. If this is the process the prime minister needs to go through to make the right decision in the summer, then so be it; we will work with him and make it happen.”
Although the delay was widely expected, Cameron immediately faced fury from business groups and accusations from Labour that he had ducked a difficult decision on infrastructure to help the chances of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory London mayoral candidate, who is a fierce opponent of Heathrow expansion.
Related: Heathrow third runway decision put off until at least summer 2016Related: Heathrow third runway decision put off until at least summer 2016
Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow airport, said he was glad to have the opportunity to “reassure the prime minister he can have the best of both worlds.
“Not only the UK’s best connected hub airport … but we can do it in an environmentally responsible way. We know it’s the right thing to do, if this is the process the prime minister needs to go through to make the right decision in the summer, then so be it, we will work with him and make it happen.”
Asked about the threat by the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent a third runway from being built, Holland-Kaye said: “Well, we’ll hand dig around Boris.”Asked about the threat by the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent a third runway from being built, Holland-Kaye said: “Well, we’ll hand dig around Boris.”
Although the delay was widely expected, Cameron immediately faced fury from business groups and accusations from Labour that he had ducked a difficult decision on infrastructure to help the chances of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory London mayoral candidate, who is a fierce opponent of Heathrow expansion.
The TUC joined business in warning that jobs would be lost and trade damaged by the latest postponement. Frances O’Grady, its general secretary, said: “While the government keeps delaying, the British people will lose out on new jobs, new apprenticeships and economic growth. And there is a big danger that the UK’s global position will slip while this crucial infrastructure for doing business with the world is delayed.”
Related: Heathrow decision delay will provoke fury but little surpriseRelated: Heathrow decision delay will provoke fury but little surprise
The British Chambers of Commerce described Thursday’s announcement as “gutless”, while the CBI group for big business said it was deeply disappointing.The British Chambers of Commerce described Thursday’s announcement as “gutless”, while the CBI group for big business said it was deeply disappointing.
Sadiq Khan, Labour’s London mayoral candidate, said the Tories were “kicking the decision into the long grass” to avoid embarrassing Goldsmith but the country could not afford more dithering over aviation capacity. Goldsmith said: “We know that it is impossible to reconcile Heathrow expansion with the legal requirements on air pollution. I don’t think there is any way round it. The logical conclusion of the decision they have made is that Heathrow is off the radar.”
“Businesses desperately need more airport capacity around London, and the Tories are letting them down. Gatwick stands ready to deliver it sooner, at a lower public expense and without the damaging impact of Heathrow expansion,” he said. His London mayoral rival, Labour MP, Sadiq Khan, said a runway was needed and it should be built at Gatwick now.
“We already know Heathrow can’t be the solution. The additional damage from air and noise pollution would mean more years of delay, while protracted legal battles are fought. It must be Gatwick – and we need to get on with it.” Residents around Gatwick have been alarmed at being dragged back into the fray. Crispin Blunt MP, one of eight Conservatives in the vicinity of Gatwick who are vehemently opposed to a second runway, said it was “disgraceful vacillation by the government” and they “richly deserve the opprobrium to be poured all over this shocking non-decision”.
He warned that Gatwick’s “flawed and costly proposal was left dead and buried by the Airports Commission. It is not the easier option. It would not survive the scrutiny of parliament and the courts.“
Local opponents warned there would be substantial environmental problems associated with Gatwick expansion, too, including worsening air quality for 50,000 people and the requirement to build a new town the size of Crawley to house the surrounding growth.
Brendon Sewill, chair of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, said: “The government will need to examine the real cost of the road and rail infrastructure work required.” He said that an airport operating at full capacity would need a bigger M23 and M25 and new road links as costly as anything needed at Heathrow.