Heathrow chiefs ramp up campaign to stop Andy Burnham downing third runway plans

Andy Burnham has refused to back a third runway at Heathrow

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But with Mr Burnham taking a different stance, Heathrow’s boss warned that its owners “cannot wait forever” for the PM to decide whether he backs its expansion proposals.

However, polling underpinning some of its claims may raise eyebrows as it shows 80% of people in Richmond Park back a new runway, in a constituency where Tory Zac Goldsmith resigned as the local MP over the issue and current Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney strongly opposes the development.

Lord Sadiq Khan strongly opposes expanding Heathrow

London Assembly

Mr Burnham has stressed that the view of London could sway his position on Heathrow’s plans.

The development, which is already estimated to cost £49 billion with terminal and other improvements, is believed to have been hit with years of delays.

Amid the row over the expansion blueprint, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye told the Financial Times that the London airport’s backers could reassess their plans if Mr Burnham does not give his commitment to the runway project soon.

The airport hub’s investors, including the Qatar Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and China Investment Corp, among others, reportedly must decide in the new year whether to submit a formal planning application for the runway.

Heathrow is seeking to build a third runway

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In his interview with the FT, Mr Woldbye said: “Our shareholders would like to do this.

“They do think that things are taking a long time, and so far they have decided to be OK with that… But of course we cannot wait forever.”

He added: “At some point in time we need a level of certainty.

“I think by the end of the year we’ll be looking and saying: ‘Let’s assess this, let’s take stock and see where we are.’”

Heathrow claims the new runway would unlock more than 100,000 jobs and £33 billion of private investment across the UK.

Heathrow chief Thomas Woldbye is pushing Andy Burnham to lay out his position within months on a new runway

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However, critics of the scheme say that it is a huge exaggeration, citing the Government’s own figures.