Britain’s Labour government has given its support to the construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport, with the aim of boosting economic growth while adhering to climate objectives. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves confirmed the decision during a speech, stating that the new runway would unlock growth and bring forward proposals by summer 2025.

Despite opposition from environmentalists and some Labour MPs, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is committed to pushing forward key infrastructure projects to revitalize the UK economy. Starmer emphasized in The Times that the government aims to clear regulatory barriers and create a new era of British growth.

Heathrow, Europe’s largest airport by passenger numbers, has seen a significant recovery post-COVID, and the third runway is expected to stimulate the UK supply chain during its construction. Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye welcomed the move, noting the potential for billions in private investment.

Although the third runway was approved by the Supreme Court in 2020 after legal challenges, the project has faced delays, with costs now estimated to be significantly higher than the original £14 billion due to inflation.

In addition to the runway project, Reeves introduced plans for a Growth Corridor linking Oxford and Cambridge, aimed at boosting the economy by up to £78 billion by 2035.

Reeves assured that the third runway would align with environmental and climate goals, a concern raised by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. He insisted the project should not undermine the UK’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The government is also expected to support expansion projects at Gatwick and Luton airports, while improvements to Stansted and City airports have already been approved.

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