The government must press ahead with its decision on whether to expand Heathrow or Gatwick Airports this autumn, the UK's infrastructure tsar has warned.
In an interview with Civil Service World, National Infrastructure Commission chief executive Phil Graham said it had been “disappointing” that the government had “taken so long” to decide whether to approve an £18.6bn third runway at Heathrow or a second landing strip at Gatwick for around half the cost.
The Airports Commission, to which Graham was secretary before becoming the first boss of the NIC, recommended expansion of Heathrow last year on the basis of its economic benefits, which have been calculated at more than £200bn and the creation of 180,000 jobs.
Interview: Phil Graham, National Infrastructure Commission CEO on Heathrow, HS2 – and long-term thinking
Ex-Labour minister to head Osborne's new National Infrastructure Commission
DfT's Phil Graham stepping up to lead National Infrastructure Commission
However, the government has continually delayed a decision amid speculation that David Cameron was worried about splitting the Cabinet, with several ministers opposed to the plan on environmental grounds.
A decision was due last year, but was put back until after the European Union referendum. After the shock Brexit vote, however, the choice has been further delayed to the autumn while new ministers appointed by Cameron’s successor, Theresa May, ease into their roles.
Graham said the Airports Commission had “made a very strong case” for expanding Heathrow. And while he said he understood the reasons for the latest delay, the NIC chief warned: “I think it is incredibly important now… that, come the autumn, the government does crack on with this and take a position.”
This echoes the position of many business leaders who think the delay to expand airport capacity in the south-east could hurt the UK economy. There are also concerns that Heathrow is being overtaken as a leading hub – Dubai overtook it as the world’s busiest airport for international travel last year.
The NIC was set up last year to draw up a plan for Britain’s infrastructure needs to 2050. Graham’s remit includes transport, energy, and communications projects, which are termed economic infrastructure.
"Our remit is challenging enough"
Elsewhere in his CSW interview, Graham said the proposed High Speed 2 rail line – which has been met with fierce opposition from campaigners – had a "symbolic" as well as economic case in its favour.
"The UK’s international reputation, as a country that can take hard decisions on infrastructure, has really grown over the last few years, through our ability to get on with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, to get on with Thames Tideway, to get on with Crossrail 2, to deliver the Olympics," he said. "I think HS2 is part of that as well.”
And the NIC chief rejected concerns that his commission has not also been asked to create long-term plans for social infrastructure, which includes schools, hospitals and prisons.
He said: “I think our remit is challenging enough as it is without having the totality of the nation’s social infrastructure added to the list.”
Graham has a team of 20, which he looking to increase to 30-35 by the end of the year.