MPs back Heathrow Airport's £14bn expansion project in Parliament vote

MPs from across political parties have backed the plans to expand Heathrow Airport with the addition of a £14bn project to add a third runway.

The vote clears the way for Heathrow to submit an application for development consent for the project, which is estimated to unlock billions of pounds in growth and create tens of thousands of new jobs across the UK.

Over the next 12 months alone, the airport will sign £150m worth of contracts with British businesses, creating 900 new jobs and 200 new apprenticeships.

Heathrow will also announce the locations of the off-site logistics hubs that will allow businesses across the country to get involved with what will be one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects.

As part of the expansion, Heathrow has made binding commitments to deliver a £2.6bn compensation package to local residents, implement a 6.5 hour ban on scheduled night flights and a triple lock guarantee to meet air quality obligations.

The airport will also release plans over the coming months to deliver a skills strategy so local residents can benefit from up to 40,000 new skilled airport jobs that an expanded Heathrow requires.

The £14bn private investment will add up to 40 new long-haul trading links, double the cargo capacity, more competition and choice for passengers and new domestic flights.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow CEO, said: “Parliament has ended 50 years of debate by deciding that Heathrow expansion will go ahead. This vote will see us deliver more jobs, create a lasting legacy of skills for future generations and guarantee expansion is delivered responsibly.

“We are grateful that MPs have made the right choice for Britain and today we start work to create the best connected hub airport in the world.”

If Heathrow is granted development consent, construction would begin in 2021 ahead of the new runway opening in 2026.

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