Plans submitted as big infrastructure projects form heart of government’s strategy to kickstart economic growth
Heathrow submits ‘shovel-ready’ plans for third runway
What will expanding Heathrow do to UK’s net zero plans?
The government has put big infrastructure at the heart of its strategy to kickstart economic growth – particularly if paid for through private investment – and has vowed to make building easier. Few projects come as big, or at such an advanced stage of planning, as Heathrow’s expansion. With record numbers of passengers, Europe’s busiest airport is at capacity, and it has new owners with deep pockets who see an opportunity to invest.
Yes, more than once. The Conservatives overturned Heathrow’s original plan, which was approved by Labour in 2009, before setting up an independent airports commission, which found a new runway was needed. The plans were endorsed by the government and voted through parliament in 2018, and were eventually upheld by the courts. But then Covid happened, passengers disappeared, and Heathrow never submitted a full planning application.
