The history behind Heathrow’s third runway debate - and who’s against it
The history behind Heathrow’s third runway debate - and who’s against it
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Everything you need to know about the Heathrow debate – which spans over two decades. Rachel Reeves delivered a landmark speech today, promising economic growth across all regions of the UK. Speaking in Oxfordshire, the chancellor pledged a slate of new development projects – including a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
![[Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given her support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport (James Manning/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/29/11/16d17b2f1d21b9e0c490002cc603890dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM4MjMzMDEz-2.78579473.jpg)
Discussions about the expansion of London’s busiest airport date back to 2003, when its owners first sought approval for the third runway. Over 20 years later, Labour has got behind the project as the government invites proposals to be brought forward in the Summer.
![[Energy secretary Ed Miliband’s opposition to Heathrow’s third runway spans back as far as 2009 (Danny Lawson/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/27/10/21541a1bf6bf2cc3995b8145066cc06eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM4MDU3Mzcy-2.78473504.jpg)
Confirming the decision in her speech, Ms Reeves said: “We cannot duck the decision any longer.”. The chancellor promised to take forward a full assessment through the airport national policy statement, designed to “ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding.”.
![[Plans for Heathrow’s third runway were first approved by Gordon Brown in 2009 (pictured in 2025)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/06/00/798ab578931a2b9904d96ede4a4659bdY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2MDAwMzIx-2.76753791.jpg)
“It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.”. There is no timeline for when a third runway could open, but it is likely to be well into the 2030s. In her speech, the chancellor said that a third runway at Heathrow is “badly needed” as “for decades its growth has been constrained”.
She added that “by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the world’s best-connected place to do business.”. Flights from the airport are currently capped at 480,000 per year, and that limit is being reached. A third runway would theoretically increase this to 720,000 flights.
