Building a third runway at Heathrow will boost Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon exports, Rachel Reeves has claimed.
The Labour Chancellor announced today the UK Government was now in favour of expanding London’s busiest airport.
Scottish salmon is the biggest export product out of Heathrow Airport by some distance.
Reeves said the move would provide a boost to areas in other parts of the UK, singling out the Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon as industries which would have “increasing trade opportunities”
She said: “According to the most recent study from frontier economics, a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43 per cent by 2050.
“Over half, 60 per cent, of that boost would go to areas outside of London and the South East in creating increasing trade opportunities for products like Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon, already two of the biggest British exports out of Heathrow.”
Heathrow is the biggest airport in the UK and was the busiest airport in Europe in 2023.
The plan to build a third runway received parliamentary approval in June 2018, but has been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic. The airport needs to secure approval for a Development Consent Order to go ahead with the project.
Chief executive Thomas Woldbye said he would not continue developing the scheme without the Government confirming it wants expansion.
Reeves said: “I can confirm today that this Government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. We will then take forward a full assessment through the Airports National Policy Statement.
“This will ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding. It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives.”
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