Overview
- Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith told the Conservative conference the party will “do whatever it takes” and legislate to remove planning and administrative barriers to build a third runway at Heathrow.
- Labour leaders, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, say they remain open minded and will listen to the outcomes of ongoing consultations before deciding on the airport’s future.
- Heathrow says it aims to secure planning consent by 2029 and have the runway operating within ten years of approval but there is no live planning application and major technical and legal hurdles remain.
- Supporters and airport bosses argue the runway would deliver large investment and roughly 100,000 jobs funded privately while opponents, environmental bodies and rival bidders point to aviation emissions, local disruption and likely legal challenges.
- If the Conservatives win power their pledge would shift the political balance but the project still depends on a National Policy Statement, local infrastructure work such as possible M25 changes, consultation results and the resolution of climate and legal concerns.