The government has backed the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport, with Reeves describing the hub as “the heart of the UK’s openness as a country”.
“I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. We will then take forward a full assessment through the Airport National Policy Statement,” she said.
Reeves insisted that a third runway is compatible with the government’s legally binding net zero 2050 target, pointing to “cleaner and greener flying” through the growth of ‘sustainable aviation fuels’.
Sustainable aviation fuel is far more expensive than jet fuel and currently only available in tiny quantities.
Heathrow’s chief executive Thomas Woldbye, sitting in the front row of the audience at the speech in Oxfordshire, has said the airport will only try to build a third runway with the full support of the government.
Reeves said the government will want to ensure that any Heathrow expansion plan “is value for money”, that road and rail transport upgrades are financed through private funding, and that the third runway is delivered “in line with legal, environmental and climate objectives”.
