![]() ![]() "We have not found that a national policy statement (NPS) supporting this project is necessarily incompatible with the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change under the Paris Agreement, or with any other policy the government may adopt or international obligation it may undertake. We have not decided, and could not decide, that there will be no third runway at Heathrow. He said: "Our decision should be properly understood. Mr Houchen had made taking control of the airport an election pledge to voters in 2017.Climate activists block roads to Heathrowīut despite the ruling, the judge Lord Justice Lindblom said an expansion has not been ruled out. Peel Group owned a majority stake in Teesside International Airport before Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen stepped in to acquire the base for £40m in 2018. She added that regional airports are vital to her economic growth plans.īeckie Hart, CBI director for Yorkshire & Humber, said the closure was a “serious blow” to the region.īut Steven Underwood, Peel Group chief executive, said: "We will not accept any public sector grant to cover the costs of an airport that is not viable due to its lack of adequate forward revenues and high operating costs."ĭespite Ms Trevelyan's comments, there is recent precedent for taxpayers stepping in to nationalised regional airports under a Conservative government. That's not what this government is about.”ĭuring her first Prime Minister's question time in the Commons in September Ms Truss vowed to “protect this airport and this infrastructure” in response to a question about Doncaster Sheffield Airport. There are too many close by that take the commercial traffic elsewhere. She continued: “They are of the view that this cannot be a financially viable airport. ![]() Ms Trevelyan said she has spent “quite a lot of time” trying to broker a rescue and that an offer for taxpayers to underwrite £7m of losses had been submitted to Peel 10 days ago. Peel Group, owned by billionaire shopping centre proprietor John Whittaker, announced earlier this month that the airport would be shutting at the end of October because it was no longer financially viable. It's one hour and 20 minutes from London to Doncaster: there's the third runway.” you are in favour of a third runway at Heathrow. Ms Trevelyan said concerns raised by climate change campaigners about air pollution are no longer valid because of the development of less harmful aviation fuels.Īt the same event, the Transport Secretary was confronted by local Conservative politicians over the closing of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport.Ī North Nottinghamshire councillor said: “You are in favour of regional development. Ms Trevelyan said it was “true” that the former prime minister opposed Heathrow's expansion while in government, despite repeatedly ducking the question while in office. The Covid pandemic, along with Mr Johnson’s long-running opposition to the third runway, led to the scheme being shelved. Bosses, however, must still make a new planning application before building work can begin. “So I am an absolute believer, because I've seen what the opportunities for that international aviation hub brings to a local economy.”Īfter years of wrangling, Heathrow's £14bn plan to build a third runway was originally given the green light in 2018 under Theresa May.Ī legal challenge by climate change campaigners was backed by the Court of Appeal before the Supreme Court sided with the airport in December 2020. And that daily flight has completely altered the north-east’s view of exporting. “It was almost like a cartoon: ‘Build it and they will come’. You could see the shift in the willingness of businesses to think about exporting. Literally within months, you could see the shift in exports. “Little Newcastle… got an Emirates flight for the first time out to Dubai. “An airport is an extraordinary neighbour,” she said. Ms Trevelyan said expansion of Newcastle Airport had boosted the local economy of her Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency, suggesting the same impact would be seen in London and the South if Heathrow gained another runway. “Aviation is a really important part of our growth.” “I'm a supporter ,” Anne-Marie Trevelyan said at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference. The Transport Secretary has said she supports the building of a third runway at Heathrow after nearly three years of tacit opposition under Boris Johnson.
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