The UK government has chosen Heathrow Airport's £49bn plan for a third runway, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced on Tuesday. The selection marks a crucial step toward expanding Britain's largest airport, a project aimed at boosting trade, tourism and economic growth across the country.
The decision sets the direction for establishing the policy framework needed for airport expansion. However, the Department for Transport clarified that this selection is not yet a final approval. Further consultation and parliamentary scrutiny will follow next year before a definitive decision can be made.
Alexander emphasized the airport's national importance. «Heathrow is our only hub airport which supports trade, tourism and hundreds of thousands of jobs, underpinning prosperity not only in the South East but across the UK,» the Transport Secretary said.
Privately Funded Project
The entire project will be privately financed, requiring no taxpayer money for construction or associated infrastructure. The expansion plan includes re-routing the M25 motorway to accommodate the new runway.
Exact details such as the runway's length, layout and infrastructure implications remain under review. Any amendments to the scheme will undergo public consultation and parliamentary examination before implementation.
Timeline and Next Steps
Alexander stressed the government's urgency in advancing the project. «We're acting swiftly and decisively to get this project off the ground so we can realise its transformational potential for passengers, businesses, and our economy sooner,» she said.
A final decision on the third runway plan is expected during this parliament. The scheme must meet key government tests, including criteria on environmental impact and economic growth.
«Today is another important step to enable a third runway and build on these benefits, setting the direction for the remainder of our work to get the policy framework in place for airport expansion,» Alexander added. «This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
