British nod for Heathrow expansion is vital for the country’s post-Brexit future

Mark Logan applauds the government’s long-delayed decision to build a third runway, which signals that the UK is open for business and poised for an infrastructure boom

Reading Time:3 minutes

A British Airways 747 comes into land at Heathrow Airport in West London in 2015. Britain was famed in the 19th century as a maritime power. It now has a real opportunity to become one of the leading global aviation powers, with direct commercial benefits to UK business. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:03pm, 31 Oct 2016Updated: 6:31pm, 31 Oct 2016

In a matter of a few weeks, the political momentum of British Prime Minister Theresa May has truly accelerated. Is an infrastructure revolution under way in the UK? First it was the eventual thumbs-up to the Hinkley Point civil nuclear project. Then we saw May deliver a “hard Brexit” message at her first Conservative Party conference as leader. And now another momentous decision has finally happened – the green light to build a third runway at Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow.

Long-delayed UK airport plan to finally take off, with government backing Heathrow expansion

This was a difficult decision for May and her government. The Heathrow expansion has always been seen as a poisoned chalice, and successive UK administrations have fudged the decision. Literally millions of people live in the surrounding area and flight path of Heathrow. This is largely why former prime minister David Cameron initially employed an independent body to review the best options to improve the UK’s already clogged-up aviation system. And, despite a recommendation from that body to opt for Heathrow, Cameron decided to yet again kick the decision into touch until political capital and public opinion would allow for it.

Foreign minister Boris Johnson said he thinks the third runway is undeliverable. Photo: AFP

We’ve already seen the political fallout from the decision. At the highest levels, the foreign secretary and former mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said he thinks the third runway is undeliverable. Lawmaker Zac Goldsmith – a candidate for London mayor earlier this year – said he believed the government had taken the wrong course and pledged to resign as an MP to force a by-election.

However, I and many others would object to Johnson and Goldsmith’s lack of foresight for the UK’s needs in the 21st century, especially in a post-Brexit future. This type of stasis is the wrong course. The infrastructure revolution must happen.

In a 2015 piece, The Economist magazine quipped that while the UK had prevaricated over whether it should build a new runway, China had built 80 new airports. It really is high time for the UK to shed its Nimby mentality and take the difficult decisions for future generations. The same applies in the area of housing. Analysts say communities are often opposed to new housing developments due to noise, inconvenience or other reasons. However, when the detractors are asked, Where are your kids going to be able to afford to live, given the lack of supply?”, there is often a realisation that short-term inconvenience can yield long-term benefits to the greater number.

Residents in the village of Harmondsworth in London protest against building a third runway. The historic village will be affected by plans to knock down hundreds of homes to clear the way for a new flight path. Photo: EPA

Villagers mourn as Heathrow runway decision dooms their historic home town to demolition

Britain will benefit from an expansion of its aviation capacity. The country was famed in the 19th century as a maritime power. It now has a real opportunity to become one of the leading global aviation powers, with direct commercial benefits to UK business.