UK ‘can’t afford’ not to build runways, says minister ahead of Rachel Reeves’ big growth speech – UK politics live
The chancellor will unveil plans to create ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’ as she stakes government success on growthThe Treasury did not mention Heathrow in its advance press notice. In their London Playbook briefing for Politico this morning, Andrew McDonald and Bethany Dawson suggest that, even though all the speculation has been about Heathrow, the more significant news today may be about other airports. They say:The expectation — reported first in Bloomberg last week and widely today — is that Reeves will offer political support to expanding three airports: Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow. But while her support is important, she can’t actually bulldoze the process. Gatwick and Luton have both submitted “development consent orders” for expansion, but the decisions — due by Feb. 27 and April 3 respectively — are quasi-judicial ones for Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.Just a thought: One possible outcome, of course, is that one or both of those DCOs — Gatwick’s being due sooner — just happens to be approved today, giving Reeves a big fat airport-shaped thing to talk about. Your author and POLITICO’s Dan Bloom were asking round the houses last night and didn’t get any denials.The Environment Agency has lifted its objections to a new development around Cambridge that could unlock 4,500 new homes and associated community spaces such as schools and leisure facilities as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre. This was only possible as a result of the government working closely with councils and regulators to find creative solutions to unlock growth and address environmental pressures.That the government has agreed for water companies to unlock £7.9bn investment for the next 5 years to improve our water infrastructure and provide a foundation for growth. This includes nine new reservoirs, such as the new Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge and the Abingdon Reservoir near Oxford.The chancellor today announced that delivery of a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford will be accelerated by 3-5 years. The station will link services directly to London, with services in under an hour. It will eventually also be an interchange with the East West Rail station.And this is what it says about the A428.The A428 (Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet) scheme will improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. The scheme will see a new 10-mile dual carriageway delivered, as well as three grade separated junctions, three tier at Black Cat roundabout (A1/A421) and two tier at Cambridge Road (B1428) and Caxton Gibbet (A428/A1198) junctions, respectively. Main construction began in December 2023 and the road is expected to open in 2027. Continue reading...
The chancellor will unveil plans to create ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’ as she stakes government success on growth
The Treasury did not mention Heathrow in its advance press notice. In their London Playbook briefing for Politico this morning, Andrew McDonald and Bethany Dawson suggest that, even though all the speculation has been about Heathrow, the more significant news today may be about other airports. They say:
The expectation — reported first in Bloomberg last week and widely today — is that Reeves will offer political support to expanding three airports: Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow. But while her support is important, she can’t actually bulldoze the process. Gatwick and Luton have both submitted “development consent orders” for expansion, but the decisions — due by Feb. 27 and April 3 respectively — are quasi-judicial ones for Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
Just a thought: One possible outcome, of course, is that one or both of those DCOs — Gatwick’s being due sooner — just happens to be approved today, giving Reeves a big fat airport-shaped thing to talk about. Your author and POLITICO’s Dan Bloom were asking round the houses last night and didn’t get any denials.
The Environment Agency has lifted its objections to a new development around Cambridge that could unlock 4,500 new homes and associated community spaces such as schools and leisure facilities as well as office and laboratory space in Cambridge City Centre. This was only possible as a result of the government working closely with councils and regulators to find creative solutions to unlock growth and address environmental pressures.
That the government has agreed for water companies to unlock £7.9bn investment for the next 5 years to improve our water infrastructure and provide a foundation for growth. This includes nine new reservoirs, such as the new Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge and the Abingdon Reservoir near Oxford.
The chancellor today announced that delivery of a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford will be accelerated by 3-5 years. The station will link services directly to London, with services in under an hour. It will eventually also be an interchange with the East West Rail station.
And this is what it says about the A428.
The A428 (Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet) scheme will improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. The scheme will see a new 10-mile dual carriageway delivered, as well as three grade separated junctions, three tier at Black Cat roundabout (A1/A421) and two tier at Cambridge Road (B1428) and Caxton Gibbet (A428/A1198) junctions, respectively. Main construction began in December 2023 and the road is expected to open in 2027. Continue reading...
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