Economic experts voice their reservations about the planned airport expansion in correspondence addressed to Rachel Reeves

The New Economics Foundation (NEF), an independent and transparent charitable think tank, has expressed concerns about the UK government's airport expansion plans. In an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, economists, academics, and transport experts have raised questions about the government's approach to airport expansion.

Dr. Alex Chapman, senior economist at the NEF, coordinated the letter's signing and asserted that the government's support for airport expansion appears to be based more on assumptions and industry vibes, rather than evidence and research. He also suggested that the balance of benefits and costs does not stack up, and the government's airport expansion plans could be questionable due to the decline of business reliance on air travel.

The letter states that there are no indications that the environmental and health impacts of airport expansion can be adequately mitigated, and the claimed economic benefits are "at best uncertain." The letter further emphasises the need for a thorough and independent impact assessment of Heathrow's expansion, which should be part of the upcoming review.

The NEF does not specify any particular lower-impact alternatives to Heathrow's expansion but suggests that other, lower-impact alternatives should be considered. This stance aligns with the New Economics Foundation's concerns about the need for a thorough and independent impact assessment and the consideration of lower-impact alternatives in the government's airport expansion plans.

Before any proposals can be approved, the government has committed to reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement, which sets the decision-making criteria for a third runway at Heathrow. The review should involve a thorough and independent impact assessment of Heathrow's expansion, as recommended by the NEF.

The government-appointed inspectors assessing Gatwick and Luton airport expansion proposals recently recommended refusal for both, which may add weight to the concerns raised in the open letter. The full letter from the New Economics Foundation can be seen on their website.

The government has received outline proposals from business groups hoping to build Heathrow's third runway. The upcoming review will be a critical moment in determining the future of airport expansion in the UK, and the concerns raised by the NEF and other experts should be taken seriously.