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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/17/heathrow-third-runway-close-to-getting-government-green-light
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| Heathrow third runway close to getting government green light | Heathrow third runway close to getting government green light |
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| Heathrow is edging closer to securing government approval for a third runway after the airport indicated that a last-minute Whitehall study into air quality will give the all-clear. | Heathrow is edging closer to securing government approval for a third runway after the airport indicated that a last-minute Whitehall study into air quality will give the all-clear. |
| The airport’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said he had “no reason to believe” that any issues had been raised in research conducted this year by the Department for Transport into air quality around Heathrow, despite consistent breaches of legal limits. He said: “Everything we have seen suggests that it won’t be an issue. I suspect if it were we would know about that by now.” | The airport’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said he had “no reason to believe” that any issues had been raised in research conducted this year by the Department for Transport into air quality around Heathrow, despite consistent breaches of legal limits. He said: “Everything we have seen suggests that it won’t be an issue. I suspect if it were we would know about that by now.” |
| The comments came as it emerged that a cabinet subcommittee on Heathrow will not make a final decision on Tuesday, as previously thought, but is now likely to rule on 25 October. | The comments came as it emerged that a cabinet subcommittee on Heathrow will not make a final decision on Tuesday, as previously thought, but is now likely to rule on 25 October. |
| Holland-Kaye told the Guardian that the recent independent study by Cambridge researchers into air quality had bolstered Heathrow’s case, and said the airport was putting in place further mitigation measures whose effects had yet to be felt. | Holland-Kaye told the Guardian that the recent independent study by Cambridge researchers into air quality had bolstered Heathrow’s case, and said the airport was putting in place further mitigation measures whose effects had yet to be felt. |
| The Heathrow boss also claimed that approving a third runway was no longer the difficult political choice for the prime minister, Theresa May. “What was once seen as a difficult political decision is becoming a much easier one.” | The Heathrow boss also claimed that approving a third runway was no longer the difficult political choice for the prime minister, Theresa May. “What was once seen as a difficult political decision is becoming a much easier one.” |
| He pointed to support for expansion demonstrated on Monday in letters to May from 50 MPs and representatives from the major parties in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolved assemblies, as well as from representatives of Britain’s largest union Unite. Labour sources also said the party would back a third runway, despite the opposition of the leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said the “imperative was overwhelming” for more capacity and heavily implied he would back Heathrow over Gatwick. | |
| With 25 October looking the most likely date for the government to finally respond to the Airports Commission report of July 2015 that recommended expanding Heathrow, May’s spokeswoman denied that the decision had been pushed back – saying that the decision would come “soon”. Ministers have never ruled out the rival plans of Gatwick, which hopes to build a second runway, while a third option, to expand one of Heathrow’s existing runways, remains on the table. | |
| “The government is very clear on the importance of making a decision, the need that there is to address the problems around airport capacity and the huge potential economic opportunities of airport expansion,” said the spokeswoman. | “The government is very clear on the importance of making a decision, the need that there is to address the problems around airport capacity and the huge potential economic opportunities of airport expansion,” said the spokeswoman. |
| “Clearly it’s a decision that it’s important to get right so that future generations can benefit.” She added: “You can expect the decision soon. There has been no change in timing.” | |
| The subcommittee will not contain prominent cabinet opponents of Heathrow, such as Justine Greening and Boris Johnson, and Heathrow remains confident that most MPs will back their plans. | The subcommittee will not contain prominent cabinet opponents of Heathrow, such as Justine Greening and Boris Johnson, and Heathrow remains confident that most MPs will back their plans. |
| Holland-Kaye said: “The benefit of the whole Airport Commission process is that it’s got us to a place where we’ve got a much better plan. It’s been a public process where we’ve consulted with communities on what’s acceptable.” | Holland-Kaye said: “The benefit of the whole Airport Commission process is that it’s got us to a place where we’ve got a much better plan. It’s been a public process where we’ve consulted with communities on what’s acceptable.” |
| He said that by meeting new conditions and altering the scheme, the airport’s expansion now had the backing “of business, politicians, and unions, and even support from local people”. | |
| As a result, Holland-Kaye said: “It makes it far more deliverable. It’s got far more support than other infrastructure projects such as HS2.” | |
| While he said the imminent decision was the key moment, he promised that Heathrow would “keep on listening” to communities while drawing up plans. | While he said the imminent decision was the key moment, he promised that Heathrow would “keep on listening” to communities while drawing up plans. |
| The third runway could be built by 2025 and would cost £17.6bn. Gatwick airport has said it will remain on standby to deliver its own plan even if Heathrow’s gets the green light next week, believing that legal and political challenges will halt the west London hub’s expansion once again. | The third runway could be built by 2025 and would cost £17.6bn. Gatwick airport has said it will remain on standby to deliver its own plan even if Heathrow’s gets the green light next week, believing that legal and political challenges will halt the west London hub’s expansion once again. |
| Meanwhile, Greenpeace said it had joined forces with councils surrounding Heathrow to launch a legal challenge to any new runway. The campaign group said it would contribute costs alongside Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead councils to instruct lawyers to seek a judicial review over the environmental impacts of a decision to go ahead. | Meanwhile, Greenpeace said it had joined forces with councils surrounding Heathrow to launch a legal challenge to any new runway. The campaign group said it would contribute costs alongside Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead councils to instruct lawyers to seek a judicial review over the environmental impacts of a decision to go ahead. |
| The Greenpeace UK executive director, John Sauven, said: “A third runway at Heathrow would be an air pollution and carbon timebomb.” |