Overview
- Andrew Griffith told the Conservative conference on Sunday that a future Tory government would "do whatever it takes" and legislate to remove blockers to build a third runway at Heathrow.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has kept an open mind and said he will consider the outcome of a public consultation before deciding the government's position.
- Heathrow chiefs still aim to seek planning consent by 2029 and expect a new runway to be operational around 2039, but there is not yet a live planning application and major local works remain unresolved.
- Environmental groups and Green Party figures urged expansion to be halted, citing the Climate Change Committee's advice that airport growth should not proceed until aviation emissions are properly addressed.
- Supporters point to private financing and jobs and investment benefits, while legal challenges, rival technical proposals and local infrastructure needs such as rerouting parts of the M25 leave the project's delivery and timetable uncertain.