Lord Adonis throws his support behind a new runway at Heathrow
National Infrastructure Commission chairman Lord Adonis has thrown his support behind a new runway at Heathrow.
Speaking at today鈥檚 London Infrastructure Summit, Adonis called the Davies Commission鈥檚 recommendation 鈥渢he only show in town鈥�.
Adonis said: 鈥淗e鈥檚 made his recommendations and to my mind that鈥檚 the only show in town.鈥�
However, he quickly added that 鈥済oing for Gatwick is also in the frame of his recommendation.鈥�
Adonis also said the postponement of a final decision on the location of a new runway has been a 鈥渢raumatic experience鈥�.
. He urged the government to submit a hybrid bill by autumn 2019 so the scheme can open in 2033.
Asked whether his recommendations would be accepted by government, Adonis said he doesn鈥檛 鈥渉ave the faintest idea鈥� but highlighted the importance of the Davies Commission recommendation on airports.
He said: 鈥淚f the government decides to go for the central recommendation of the Davies Commission, that would not have happened without the Davies Commission.
鈥淭he only reason this is back on the agenda is because of the Davies Commission.鈥�
Adonis also said it was important to control costs on the mega infrastructure project so it doesn鈥檛 become a scheme that 鈥渋n the view of the Treasury is unaffordable鈥�, adding that it 鈥渧ery nearly happened with Crossrail 1.鈥�
He added: 鈥淲e need to get costs down. HS1 was the most expensive railway in the world. HS2 will be the most expensive when it is completed. Clearly there鈥檚 an issue about cost.鈥�
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