Analysis

Video: CBI’s Katja Hall – UK needs “strong political leadership” over Heathrow

As government begins its assessment of the recent Davies recommendation for a third runway at Heathrow, CBI deputy director general Katja Hall underlines the £31bn price of delay and need for “diggers in the ground by 2020”. 

Government must press forward to make a firm decision to follow the Davies Commission recommendation to build a third runway at Heathrow to ensure that the UK does not fall behind the rest of the world in terms of global connectivity.

"Let’s take a decision by the end of the year – it is time for strong political leadership.” Katja Hall

Speaking to Infrastructure Intelligence at the recent Runways UK event, Hall underlined the recent research by CBI that delayed decision could lose the UK up to £31bn in trade by 2030 because of the failure to increase flights to the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries alone.

“The UK is already losing out and falling behind some of our rivals and that has an economic cost to our country,” she said.

“We have a very clear decision from the Davies Commission that a third runway at Heathrow stands head and shoulders above any other option. Our message is that we now have to get on with implementing his recommendation and we want to see diggers in the ground by 2020.”

She added: “Of course it’s a difficult decision and there aren’t any easy solutions. But we have a clear recommendation. Let’s not waste any more time. Let’s take a decision by the end of the year – it is time for strong political leadership.”

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If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.