Boris Johnson hits out at Heathrow expansion plan as 'madness'

Johnson pulled no punches in dismissing the Heathrow plan (Photo: Reuters/Luke MacGregor)

1 September 2014

London Mayor Boris Johnson has branded plans to expand Heathrow as “madness”, as a CBI report calls for “spades in the ground” on a project to expand air capacity in the capital by 2020 today.

Johnson pulled no punches in dismissing the Heathrow plan as "self-defeating" and "barbarically contemptuous of the rights of the population" in reiterating his preference for a new site, writing in the Daily Telegraph.

Having a single UK hub airport with spare capacity to add new routes was critical to the UK's long-term sustainable growth, the report said.

The CBI is urging the Whitehall-commissioned Airports Commission to deliver recommendations to solve the UK's shortage of runway capacity and spark new connections with the export markets of tomorrow.

The CBI report comes as the commission is poised to make a decision on whether or not to carry on including the so-called "Boris Island" Thames Estuary airport scheme in its considerations for airport expansion.

The estuary plan is being championed by London Mayor Boris Johnson. Any ditching of the estuary scheme would leave the commission with three shortlisted options for expansion - two alternative schemes at Heathrow and one at Gatwick.

Mr Johnson said: "What frustrates me is that third runway (at Heathrow) is so desperately short-sighted. You could not conceivably get it built before 2029, by the airport's own admission - and as soon as it opened it would be full."

The commission is due to present is final expansion recommendations to Parliament in summer 2015 - after the general election.

The CBI is calling the commission to deliver recommendations that:

- Make a strong political and economic case for action in the next Parliament, with a clear schedule that delivers spades in the ground by 2020;

- Set out clearly the type of capacity required to maximise the UK's connections with the rest of the world. The CBI recommends hub capacity at a single location as the best way of boosting connectivity with new markets;

- Set out a compelling narrative for how to bolster competition by maximising links across the UK, developing an action plan to make the best use of existing capacity by improving surface access;

- Give politicians a clear timetable for the consideration of additional capacity beyond 2030 to prevent another capacity crunch in the future.

CBI deputy director-general Katja Hall said: "UK business wants action. There can be no more excuses - we need to see the Airports Commission deliver a strong case for new capacity and a clear schedule for delivery, and politicians to commit to spades in the ground by the end of the next Parliament.

"With Heathrow full and the UK slipping behind in the race for new connectivity, it is essential that the Airports Commission delivers a solution that addresses the ticking time bomb of our lack of spare hub capacity."

Boris Johnson hits out at Heathrow expansion plan as 'madness'

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