Burnham withholds backing for Heathrow third runway

Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined on Sunday to endorse plans for a third runway at Heathrow, saying Londoners’ views should be heard before he takes a position. The government has supported the expansion, but the consultation has closed and a formal planning application has not been submitted. Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Burnham said the issue was principally a matter for London and its residents. He said the government should consider the consultation responses before deciding how to proceed. The consultation on the Heathrow expansion national policy statement closed on September 1. The comments leave Burnham short of the backing expressed by Chancellor John Healey. Earlier this month, Healey told MPs that the government had given the project the go-ahead, citing its economic case and expected contribution to growth. His statement sets out the government’s support for the proposal, but it does not mean that Heathrow has received planning permission. Heathrow has said the runway may not be operational until 2039, later than the previously discussed target of 2035.