Heathrow third runway plans 'catastrophic'

Building a third runway at Heathrow Airport would have a "catastrophic" environmental impact, campaign groups have claimed amid reports that the chancellor is preparing to back the project. Rachel Reeves is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway at the west London airport and endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton airports, the BBC understands. Opponents of airport expansion say that increasing flight capacity would be damaging for the environment. The government said all expansion proposals must demonstrate they will contribute to economic growth while meeting environmental commitments. The project secured parliamentary approval in June 2018 but was delayed by legal challenges brought by environmental campaigners and by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Alethea Warrington, head of aviation at climate charity Possible, said: "Approving airport expansions would be a catastrophic misstep for a government which claims to be a climate leader. This huge increase in emissions won't help our economy, and would just encourage the small group of frequent flyers who take most of the flights, further worsening the UK's huge tourism deficit." She added that the government should focus on supporting "affordable and low-carbon trains and buses".<br/>