LONDON, June 5 (Xinhua) -- British Prime minister Theresa May's top ministers Tuesday backed controversial multi-billion dollar third runway at London Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport.
At a meeting in Downing Street of May's economic committee ministers set out final proposals to back the Heathrow expansion plan which will pave the way for more flights to London.
The backing from senior members of May's ministerial team puts the government on a collision course with leading members of her Conservative party, including fierce opponent Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
What was described as marking an important milestone in building a global Britain, the government published the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), backing the Heathrow expansion.
The new runway at Heathrow would provide benefits of up to 100 billion U.S. dollars to passengers and the wider economy and create tens of thousands of local jobs. It will also better connect Britain to the rest of world with an extra 16 million long-haul seats available by 2040, the government said in a statement.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told MPs about the decision in a statement in the House of Commons.
Grayling said expansion at Heathrow would present "a unique opportunity to deliver a multi-billion pound boost to our economy, strengthen our global links and maintain our position as a world leader in aviation."
"As we leave the EU, the UK must remain one of the world's best-connected and outward-looking countries and a third runway at Heathrow is the best option to deliver this," he said.
Grayling told MPs that the Heathrow expansion would be funded entirely privately and while the expansion was a number of years away he believed it could be concluded by 2026.
He said the government has listened to views through consultations and will ensure a world-class package of measures to help any local communities affected by the expansion.
But his reassurance is unlikely to convince communities affected by the plans as well as clean-air campaigners who fear more flights will increase pollution around the airport.
The government also announced Tuesday the creation of a new Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise, which will be an independent expert voice on noise issues, acting as a link between airport operators, airlines and local communities.
The government said over the next few weeks the British parliament will have the opportunity to vote on the Heathrow proposals as part of a debate on the NPS.
