Heathrow Airport has submitted its proposals to the UK government for a third runway that it said could help increase cargo capacity by 50%.
The UK's biggest airport and biggest hub for cargo said in a LinkedIn post today that the plans are 100% privately-financed and expansion is expected to add 0.43% to UK GDP, create more jobs and direct 60% of supply chain spend beyond London and the south east of England.
Thomas Woldbye, group chief executive, Heathrow Airport, said in a separate LinkedIn post today: "Today is a significant and exciting milestone for Heathrow. We’ve submitted our proposals for a 100% privately financed third runway, capable of being operational within a decade.
"With the right Government policy support, Heathrow expansion will unlock tens of thousands of jobs and growth across the UK, while delivering more choice, better value, and greater global reach for passengers and airlines in the once-in-a-generation redesign of our airfield.
"There has never been a more important or urgent time to expand Heathrow. We are at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity. With a green light from Government and the correct policy support underpinned by a fit-for-purpose regulatory model, we are ready to mobilise and start investing this year in our supply chain across the country."
UK cargo group Logistics UK urged the airport to keep freight at the centre of its plans.
Logistics UK senior policy manager Alexandra Herdman said: “Heathrow is the UK’s biggest port by value, and a critical hub which provides access to the rest of the UK and the world for British business.
"It is essential that the final scheme makes full provision for developing air freight alongside passenger flights, to smooth imports and exports and enable industry to drive growth. Increasing airport capacity is a vital component to ensure UK plc continues to grow and reach new global markets.
“Industry has been urging government for a long time to support nationally significant infrastructure projects, such as the third runway at Heathrow, and it is vital that these projects are now developed at pace to boost growth across the whole economy as quickly as possible.”
In January, UK chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government's backing of Heathrow's third runway plans.
The expansion was initially approved in 2018 but the UK has since committed to net zero emissions by 2050 and on December 4 2020 it pledged to cut carbon emissions by 68%, from what they were in 1990, by 2030.
As well as environmental targets set by the government, the airport will have to contend with opposition from within the ruling Labour party, community groups and NGOs on noise and pollution grounds.
The airport can seek a development consent order (DCO), a type of planning permission for nationally significant infrastructure, but has yet to do so.
And gaining the DCO may be difficult, as it will take into consideration stricter pledges to cut emissions made recently by the UK government.
As plans for the third runway continue, the airport is using a participatory stakeholder approach as it redevelops its ‘Horseshoe’ cargo area and supports the rollout of the CCS-UK AIS (Advance Information System) portal for booking and monitoring trucks.
Gatwick is also hoping to bring its emergency runway into regular use while Luton wants to add a new terminal.
