A number of councils have called on the Government to authorise the construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport to support job creation and economic growth. The leaders of 34 local authorities from around the UK last week signed a letter to the Transport Secretary stressing that it is “now time to make a bold decision” and
expand the airport.

They wrote that investment in infrastructure is “even more important during uncertain economic times” and that the UK should build on the success of the aviation industry by “future-proofing it”. Councils such as Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Aberdeen and Neath Port Talbot were among those that signed the letter.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “Councils from across the country recognise that expansion at Heathrow will benefit their local economies by creating skilled jobs and connecting exporters to growing markets overseas. Their support is further evidence that our new Prime Minister has the opportunity to make the right choice
in the whole of Britain’s interest by expanding Heathrow.”

It was confirmed at the start of the month that the decision on whether to back expansion at Heathrow or Gatwick has been deferred until at least October. In July last year, the Davies Commission recommended the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, but the Department for Transport announced in December that further investigations into noise, pollution and compensation needed to be carried out.

Meanwhile, Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate says that his West Sussex airport is the only one offering a plan that can “deliver the expansion we need — and do so by 2025”.