Rachel Reeves to back Heathrow expansion in bid for economic growth
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Government could back much-delayed plan for third runway at Heathrow, as well as expansion of Gatwick and Luton airports. Rachel Reeves is poised to back a third runway at Heathrow in a bid to revive Britain’s flatlining economy. The chancellor is preparing a sweeping expansion of UK airports as part of its number one mission to secure sustained economic growth.
![[Rachel Reeves is set to back the third runway at Heathrow in a bid for growth]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/11/29/15/GettyImages-613944506.jpg)
As well as publicly endorsing Heathrow’s much-postponed plan to build a third runway, the government is reportedly set to approve a second runway at Gatwick and an application for Luton airport to double its capacity. Last month, Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate told The Independent he was pleading for permission from transport secretary Heidi Alexander to bring his airport’s standby runway into permanent use.
![[Gatwick is set to be able to use its standby runway to boost capacity]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/08/24/08/Gatwick%20view%20along%20runway%20%283%29.jpg)
He warned: “London’s airports are already reaching capacity and demand is forecast to grow by more than 30 million passengers by 2030. We are already full at peak times.”. And he joined long-standing calls from a series of Heathrow bosses including incumbent Thomas Woldbye, who has said the plan for a third runway at Britain’s busiest airport is contingent on government support.
Both bosses have warned that by not approving the plans, the government is missing out on an opportunity to boost growth. Amid growing fears about the state of Britain’s economy, with Ms Reeves expected to push through deep cuts when it publishes its upcoming spending review, she has ordered ministers to come up with ideas to boost growth.
