"Overwhelming" Case For Heathrow Expansion

24 October 2016, 06:11

There are new claims the case for Heathrow expansion is now ``overwhelming''

It's come from the man who led the government-commissioned review of airport capacity.

Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, said Brexit underlined the need for a ``clear strategic decision'' in favour of Heathrow by ministers.

The Government will choose which programme to back on Tuesday, ending more than a year of uncertainty since the Davies Commission came out in favour a third runway here in the Thames Valley.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Sir Howard dismissed the idea of expanding both Heathrow and Gatwick - and hinted that Birmingham could be the next in line for a new runway once capacity in the South East had been expanded.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said attempts to expand Heathrow had repeatedly failed to make progress and insisted his airport represented the best option.

He said ``Gatwick offers an end to this debate by providing a deliverable solution for balanced economic growth across the UK. With all the economic benefits at a fraction of the impacts, it is the obvious solution.''