British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to the media about his vision for the country outside No.10 Downing St after securing a majority for the Conservative Party and a further five year term in the 2015 UK General Election in London on May 08, 2015. Wednesday, Cameron said a final decision will be made by the year's end on a controversial $28 billion expansion at London's Heathrow airport that includes a third runway. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
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LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Britain's top leader will finalize a decision by the end of the year on a controversial $28 billion expansion at London Heathrow Airport after a long-awaited study recommended a third runway at Europe's busiest hub.
The government-appointed Airports Commission announced Wednesday a third runway at Heathrow "presents the strongest case and offers the greatest strategic and economic benefits," and Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament he will make the final decision.
The commission said having the expansion in place by 2026 will bolster the United Kingdom's status as a "global hub for aviation" and offers a big financial boost to the U.K. economy in the coming 60 years. The third runway would spur economic growth, adding more than 70,000 new jobs and 40 new destinations to the airport by 2050, the commission said. Already, the U.K. is fending off challenges from airports in Dubai, Paris and Frankfurt, which have more runways and an increasing number of passengers.
With the commission's announcement, after a three-year study, opponents worry about the future of the area. The expansion would include destroying homes, environmental impacts and increased noise and traffic. Expansion opponents worry that Cameron, whose Conservative Party is split on the expansion issue, has backpedaled in his opposition.
Conservative Member of Parliament Zac Goldsmith told Sky News the study was a waste of time and money and vowed to stop the third runway.
"There will be more than a million Londoners up in arms about this," he said. "Over the next few months there will be a ramped-up campaign against expansion and we will make certain the government will not give the green light to Heathrow."
The decision by the commission does not leave the new runway as the only option. The commission said weaker options include extending a Heathrow runway or adding a second at Gatwick Airport, located south of London.
