Sir Sadiq Khan has hit out at newly unveiled proposals for the expansion of Heathrow Airport after Rachel Reeves endorsed a third runway earlier this year. The airport’s plan to create a third landing and take-off strip includes proposals to divert the M25 motorway between Junctions 14 and 15. A hotel tycoon, Surinder Arora, one of the largest landowners at Heathrow, has also announced that he is submitting a rival proposal. This would not require the M25 to be rerouted, the Arora Group claimed.
Now, Labour’s Mayor of London has hit out again at the prospect of an expansion, after the Chancellor said it is needed to “kickstart economic growth”. He said: “I remain opposed to a new runway at Heathrow Airport because of the severe impact it will have in terms of noise, air pollution, and meeting our climate change targets. I remain unconvinced that you can have a new runway at Heathrow, delivering hundreds of thousands of additional flights every year, without a hugely detrimental impact on our environment.”
Sir Sadiq also warned that all options are on the table as regards a response from City Hall.
The authority will “carefully scrutinise the new Heathrow expansion proposals – including the impact these would have on people living in the area and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure,” he said, “which would require a comprehensive and costed plan to manage.”
“I’ll be keeping all options on the table in how we respond,” the Mayor added.
Ms Reeves said in January: “I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected as part of our Plan for Change.
“And now the case is stronger than ever because our reforms to the economy – like speeding up our planning system, and our strengthened plans to modernise UK airspace – mean the delivery of this project is set up for success.”
The Arora Group’s plan has an estimated cost of under £25billion, it has been suggested.
This does not include the redevelopment of the airport’s existing central area.
Heathrow said in 2018 that it could complete its runway for £14billion, but this is now expected to cost billions more.