Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave her official support for plans for a third runway in Heathrow, on the pretext that expansion can create more than 100,000 jobs and significantly enhance the nation’s economic output.
“There is an urgent need for a third runway,” she said, referring to projections that indicate a 0.43 % increase in the potential gross domestic product by 2050 if the airport is expanded.
Reeves confirmed the Central role of Heathrow in global communication in the United Kingdom, noting that the airport facilitates three quarters of all long British flights, deals with more than 60 % of air freight in the United Kingdom, and served about 15 million commercial passengers in 2023 alone. She said, “Heathrow is at the heart of the UK’s openness as a country.” “It connects us with emerging markets around the world, and opens new opportunities for growth. However, its growth has been restricted for decades. Successive studies have shown that this is really important to our economy.”
In addressing environmental and societal concerns, Reeves said that Heathrow operators are committed to meeting strict requirements about noise, air quality and carbon emissions, and has highlighted the continuous efforts to remove carbon in the aviation sector. “We are already taking great steps in moving to cleaner and More green flightShe added. The advisor’s support for the government’s view confirms that the airport expanding is crucial to maintaining the United Kingdom’s competitive advantage while meeting the demand for future travel.
In response to the announcement, the CEO of Heathro Thomas and Oldby said: “We welcome the support of the aviation industry and recognize the decisive role we play for the economy and in achieving growth throughout the United Kingdom.
“Heathrow is the UK Gate for growth and prosperity. The third runway and the infrastructure that comes with it will open billions of pounds from private funds to stimulate the supply chain in the United Kingdom during construction. Once built, it will create job opportunities and pay trade, tourism and internal investment for each part of the country It will also give airlines and passengers the competitive and flexible airport that they expect while returning to the UK on the map in the heart of the global economy.
“This is the bold and responsible vision that the UK needs to prosper in the twenty -first century, and I thank the government and the advisor for its leadership. He gave us confidence to confirm our continuous support for the expansion of Heathrow. The project’s delivery requires successfully changing policy – especially on updating the necessary airspace and making the organizational model suitable for the purpose We will now work with the government on the expected reform of the planning and support ministers to provide the changes that will put us on the right path to secure the planning permit before the end of this parliament.
In response to the counselor’s speech, Rosie Downs, head of the campaigns in the Friends of the Earth, said: “The growth of Rachel Reeves” surpasses every “is a kind of serious thinking in a serious way that helped cause the climate crisis and the UK left one of the most exhausted countries in nature in the world.
“Giving vessels to expansion at the airport by relying on new unreliable technologies, such as” sustainable aviation fuel “will be a reckless gamble with our future and the risks of UK goals lost in climate reduction even if we expand renewable energy quickly.
Likewise, allowing developers to roam their way by protecting nature and guarantee will reduce the wildlife and the natural environment that threatens it seriously.
“The economy of the net zero is the fastest growing sector in the UK, and the government should seize the huge benefits that will build a more green future to bring cheap local renewable energy and well isolated homes, not for harmful projects such as airports and the lower Times crossing.
“Sacrifice of nature and our climate is not a leadership. It is a rash, short -sighted and a confirmed way to lose the confidence of those who believe the promises of the Labor Party in the environment. Instead, the advisor must adopt green growth.”