Airport delays

The Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, has delayed a decision on whether to approve plans for a third runway at Heathrow until at least the autumn. The Airports Commission recommended to the government last July that there should be a third runway at Heathrow rather than a second at Gatwick.

However, opponents of the £ 16 billion project (Project ID: 03179476) continued to press their concerns over the cost and environmental impact of the scheme. The Government has ordered a report on the likely impact of a new runway on air quality at Heathrow. The report is due “soon,” while the government is also looking at boosting compensation for residents affected by the scheme.

Work is currently scheduled to start on site in September 2020.

The delay may favour the rival £4.1 billion proposal for a second runway at Gatwick (Project ID: 03225160). Two of the candidates in Conservative leadership battle, Theresa May and Michael Gove, have constituencies that are in the Heathrow flight path.