LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Parliament approves third runway at Heathrow Airport on 415-119 vote. </s> A third runway at Heathrow Airport was approved Tuesday by Prime Minister Theresa May's Cabinet, setting the stage for a parliamentary vote on the matter after years of debate over how to increase airport capacity around London. </s> Britain's Parliament approves third runway at Heathrow Airport on 415-119 vote

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Parliament approves third runway at Heathrow Airport on 415-119 vote. </s> The cabinet has approved the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told the Commons.

"The time for action is now," Mr Grayling told MPs 11 years after the original decision to expand the UK's biggest airport.

The Transport Secretary confirmed that 15% of new landing slots would go to routes linking London to regional airports, including in Scotland.

But he admitted that "even with today's announcement, a new runway at Heathrow is still some years away."

Approval presents a political headache for Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, who has previously said he would "lie down in front of bulldozers" to stop the proposed runway.

READ MORE: Scottish airports promised new slots at expanded Heathrow

However, it is understood that Mr Johnson has accepted the need to finally make a decision on a third runway.

Mr Grayling's announcement follows a meeting of the Cabinet's economic sub-committee, which had the final say on the Airports National Policy Statement (NPS). It was then reported to a meeting of the full cabinet.

Following a decision taken shortly after she became Prime Minister, Theresa May has allowed members of the cabinet to speak out against a third runway at Heathrow. However, following the loss of her majority in 2017, there is no margin for error in a vote that will follow on the NPS within 21 sitting days.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said that a decision had also been made by ministers on whipping arrangements, but these were not immediately made clear.

Proponents of building a third runway at the major hub say it is the best option to increase capacity and boost the national economy while being cost-effective.

However, critics warn the plan is "expensive and complex" and bad for the environment - while one group hinted legal action may be taken against the Department for Transport (DfT) over its "dodgy" handling of the process.

Alternative schemes include expanding Gatwick Airport in West Sussex. Any announcement in favour of a third runway is likely to be met with dismay by MPs from across the divide whose constituencies are already affected by Heathrow air traffic.

On Monday, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, whose Twickenham seat stands to be affected by expansion, branded the scheme "ill-conceived".

Meanwhile Extend the Runway, a group advocating increasing capacity by lengthening the airport's northern runway, said the DfT "lacks both expertise and attention to detail" and had not listened to its proposal.

"People should have zero confidence that the DfT have run a rigorous process on Heathrow's expensive and complex plan," the group said on Twitter.

The No Third Runway Coalition, which counts Sir Vince and Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell among its members, said the DfT's process had been "dodgy and has favoured Heathrow Airport Ltd from the start".

"That will be proven in court, if it comes to it," they added.

The Aviation Environment Federation said it is "extremely unlikely that the Government will have been able to find solutions to key challenges related to the environmental impacts of expansion".

The group said: "The Aviation Strategy, which is being taken forward under a separate process to the Heathrow NPS, will set out how the environmental impacts of aviation nationally should be tackled, but will not be consulted upon until later this year with publication of the final strategy not expected until the middle of next year.

"The decision on Heathrow is set to be taken, therefore, in the absence of any policy on how to tackle aviation's carbon emissions, so with no clarity on whether limits on aviation growth will be needed in order to meet climate change obligations."

READ MORE: SNP back third Heathrow runway as 'best deal for Scotland' </s> LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government has given the go-ahead for the construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport — a decision that paves the way for the long-running issue to be put up for a parliamentary vote.

The Department for Transportation last year asked the public for comments on the plans to build the new runway at Heathrow, arguing the project would permit an additional 260,000 flights a year and add 74 billion pounds ($99 billion) to the British economy over 60 years.

Heathrow is already one of the world’s largest airports, but the decision on whether to expand it has been a source of contention, particularly in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative government.

Even if lawmakers approve the decision, it is likely to be challenged in the courts. </s> The UK House of Commons voted by a 415-119 margin to approve the building of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport.

After years of debate in the UK over expanding Heathrow, the UK parliamentary vote follows the strong backing for building a third runway at the busy hub by UK Prime Minister Theresa May. The project to build a third runway is expected to cost around £14 billion ($18.5 billion); in addition to paving the runway, it will likely require an expansion of existing terminal infrastructure and a realignment of the M25 motorway. The plan is for the runway to be operational by 2026.

The vote was not without controversy. Britain’s trade minister, Greg Hands, resigned his post ahead of the vote, saying he could not back May on the issue. Boris Johnson, currently the UK’s foreign secretary and formerly the mayor of London—and a long-time opponent of a third Heathrow runway—missed the vote because of a trip to Afghanistan, prompting taunts of “Where’s Boris?” from some Members of Parliament during the vote.

Now part of a government officially backing the plan, Johnson once said he would “lie down in front of bulldozers” to stop a third Heathrow runway.

Progress on the project is expected to continue to be slow, with several environmental and community groups predicted to launch judicial review proceedings against the plan. Also in opposition is International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent group of the airport’s largest operator, British Airways. IAG CEO Willie Walsh has repeatedly questioned the high cost of building a third runway at Heathrow. </s> A third runway at Heathrow Airport has been given the go-ahead by the Cabinet, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced on Tuesday (June 5).

The project was approved at a meeting of ministers on the Cabinet's economic sub-committee.

Mr Grayling told the Commons: "Today I am laying before Parliament our final proposal for an Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) which signals our commitment to securing global connectivity, creating tens of thousands of local jobs and apprenticeships, and boosting our economy for future generations by expanding Heathrow Airport."

He added: "My department has met with local residents and fully understands their strength of feeling but this is a decision taken in the national interest and based on detailed evidence."

The Government set out its support for a third runway in a National Policy Statement (NPS), which will be published now it has been approved by the Cabinet. A vote must then be held in the Commons within 21 sitting days.

The airport still needs to publish detailed expansion plans, which will be subjected to a public consultation and a planning inquiry.

It hopes to receive final planning permission and begin construction in 2021.

Speaking after the announcement, Labour Group Leader Councillor Peter Curling said all political parties across Hillingdon are united in their opposition of the third runway plans.

He said: “It comes as no real surprise to me that this Government has decided to push ahead with Heathrow expansion despite figures within their own party strongly opposing it.

“The political parties across Hillingdon are united in our opposition to a third runway, and we will work together with residents however we can to voice and demonstrate this opposition.

“People’s homes and communities face being destroyed, not to mention increase noise, congestion and pollution in the area. We stand by our commitment to a better Heathrow, not a bigger one.”

Legal action is likely following Cabinet approval, with many residents' and environmental groups opposed to the runway over concerns about noise and emissions.

They are expected to launch a High Court challenge on the grounds that the Government's decision to support the scheme is unlawful.

Speaking out in support of the plans, CBI deputy director-general Josh Hardie said: "It's fantastic that the new runway at Heathrow is getting closer to take-off.

"All the more so as the United Kingdom has waited for nearly half a century for this decision.

"Expanding our aviation capacity, and creating new flight routes to rapidly growing markets, is mission critical to ensuring Britain can compete on the post-Brexit world stage.

"The new air links the runway will create will unlock growth and help create jobs at home, and enable more businesses - especially our many innovative and ambitious small and medium-sized ones - to export their goods and services to booming markets.

"Our aviation capacity is set to run out as early as 2025, so it's crucial we get spades in the ground as soon as possible. From Southampton to the Shetlands, firms in all parts of the UK will be looking to their MPs to approve the national policy statement, giving a timely vote of confidence in Global Britain's future." </s> LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the third runway at Heathrow Airport (all times local):

Britain's government has given the go-ahead for the construction of a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport — a decision that paves the way for the long-running issue to be put up for a parliamentary vote.

The Department for Transportation last year asked the public for comments on the plans to build the new runway at Heathrow, arguing the project would permit an additional 260,000 flights a year and add 74 billion pounds ($99 billion) to the British economy over 60 years.

Heathrow is already one of the world's largest airports, but the decision on whether to expand it has been a source of contention, particularly in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government.

Even if lawmakers approve the decision, it is likely to be challenged in the courts.

The British Cabinet is expected Tuesday to approve the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, a decision that could pave the way for the long-running issue to be put up for a parliamentary vote.

The economic secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, told the BBC, "we need to expand our capacity and this is the right thing to do."

The location of a new runway in southeastern England has been debated for years amid concerns over pollution, traffic and noise.

The Department for Transportation last year asked the public for comments on the plans to build the runway at Heathrow, arguing the project would permit an additional 260,000 flights a year and add 74 billion pounds ($99 billion) to the British economy over 60 years.

Heathrow is already one of the world's largest airports, but the decision on whether to expand it has been a source of contention, particularly in Prime Minister Theresa May's government. </s> LONDON (AP) — Britain’s transport secretary announces plans for third runway at Heathrow Airport.
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom approves a controversial third runway at London's Heathrow Airport.