Heathrow third runway bid set to be axed after judges’ verdict
BORIS Johnson looked set to bury Heathrow’s controversial third runway bid for good yesterday, after a ruling by top judges halted the bulldozers.
Downing Street said it would not contest the Court of Appeal ruling that the Government must reconsider its support because of its environmental impact.
Jubilant campaigners said the judges had “killed off” the project, which was now “politically unacceptable”.
As London mayor, the Prime Minister promised to “lie down in front of those bulldozers” to stop the runway and he has been unenthusiastic about the plan since entering No 10.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said yesterday the Government had “taken the decision not to appeal”.
And appearing to distance No 10 from the project, he said the runway blueprint had been produced under the “previous government”. Mr Shapps said: “It is critical that vital infrastructure projects, including airport expansion, drive the whole UK economy, level up our regions and unite our country.”
But bosses warned that the decision would leave Britain struggling to compete internationally.
Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Business communities across the UK will be bitterly disappointed that plans for a worldleading hub airport are now at risk.
“There has never been a more important time to demonstrate that Britain is open for business.”
Miles Celic, CEO of TheCityUK, representing financial services, said the uncertainty over airport capacity was “a blow to any serious vision of a global
Britain” and the UK seemed “stuck in the international infrastructure slow lane”.
He warned: “We shouldn’t be surprised if it means that we get overtaken by our competitors.”
Mike Cherry, who chairs the Federation of Small Businesses, said the ruling would hit small firms needing more connectivity and export opportunities.
The Court of Appeal ruled that a national policy statement by the Government, setting out support for the west London project, was unlawful. Lords Justices Lindblom, Singh and Haddon-Cave said then transport secretary Chris Grayling failed to consider the Paris Agreement, which commits the UK to limiting global warming to well below 35F (2C).
The appeal against the runway was brought by councils, environmental charities and London mayor Sadiq Khan.
Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: “Boris Johnson should now put Heathrow out of its misery and cancel the third runway once and for all.
“No ifs, no buts, no lies, no U-turns.”
Heathrow said it was confident of winning an appeal against the ruling.
A spokeswoman said yesterday: “Expanding Heathrow, Britain’s biggest airport and only hub, is essential to achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of global Britain.
“We will get it done the right way without jeopardising the planet’s future. Let’s get Heathrow done.”
‘Plans for a world leading hub airport are now at risk’