Theresa May has welcomed assurances from Heathrow Airport Holdings that they will not be pursuing proposals for a new airport at White Waltham Airfield. Recent media reports revealed that proposals for a new four-runway airport at White Waltham were being considered as part of Heathrow’s submission to the Government’s Airports Commission. However, Theresa has now received an assurance that this plan will not be put forward.
Following the media reports, and in response to local concerns, Theresa wrote to Colin Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of Heathrow Airport Holdings, urging him to rule out any expansion at White Waltham. She has now received a response from Mr Matthews stating, “I can confirm that we will not be proposing plans for a new airport as part of our submission to the Airports Commission”.
Commenting, Theresa said: “I am very pleased that Heathrow have taken this early opportunity to dismiss the idea of building a new airport at White Waltham. This was never going to be a sensible option, but it was worrying that it was even being considered at all. I will continue to monitor this to ensure that the idea does not reappear. More generally, I am hopeful that Sir Howard Davies’ Airports Commission will come forward with sensible options for maintaining the UK’s hub status.”
