Heathrow expected to begin constructing third runway by 2020

London

HEATHROW should begin constructing a third runway by 2020, provided the government counters opposition from local boroughs and environmental groups following a 30-year delay of the project.

The third runway scheme was chosen after premier Theresa May chaired a meeting of the airport cabinet sub-committee on Tuesday. A public consultation will now be held on the impact of the runway at the west London airport before a parliamentary vote in the winter of 2017/18. The plan involves building a new 3,500m runway about 3.2 km north of the two runways Heathrow already has, at an estimated cost of £17.6 billion (S$30 billion). Heathrow's plans are four years to build the runway itself from 2020 and another year to construct the surrounding infrastructure.