Top contractors back Heathrow expansion

No comments

Firms including Balfour Beatty and Laing O鈥橰ourke throw weight behind Heathrow

London Heathrow T2 2014

Major contractors including Balfour Beatty and Laing O鈥橰ourke have backed a new runway at Heathrow in a letter to Chancellor George Osborne.

Bosses at thirteen firms 鈥� which also include Bam, Ferrovial, Mace, Morgan Sindall, Atkins, Mott MacDonald and Turner and Townsend 鈥� have signed a letter which calls on the Chancellor to live up to his declaration that 鈥渨e are the builders鈥� and back expansion at the airport.

The letter says a third runway at Heathrow would bring a 鈥溌�15.6bn order book to the UK supply chain鈥� and allow the contractors to 鈥渃ontinue to invest in tens of thousands of skilled jobs this country badly needs.鈥�

It also points out the lack of infrastructure investment in the UK over the last 30 years, saying that last year was the 鈥渨orst for global growth since the crash鈥� and highlights a 2015 survey from the respected international OECD economic think-tank, which said the UK has 鈥渟pent less on infrastructure than other OECD countries over the past three decades.鈥�

The letter concludes by saying Heathrow expansion will make it the 鈥渕ost sustainable hub airport and Britain the best connected country in the world.鈥�

The Davies Commission recommended a third runway at Heathrow last summer at a cost of 拢18.6bn. Ministers put off making a decision until December, and have since postponed making a final call until this summer, citing concerns over air quality.

Full letter

At the Conservative conference in 2015 you announced 鈥渨e are the builders鈥�. We congratulate you on your vision to build the important infrastructure the country needs and make the hard decisions. We represent some of the largest developers and construction companies in the UK. We applaud your ambition and stand ready to help you deliver it.

We are writing to encourage your support for Heathrow expansion. Heathrow is one of the biggest private developers in the UK, having invested around 拢11bn over the last 10 years. For over a decade, it has provided a steady base of work to UK construction companies and their supply chains, allowing them to invest in skilled UK jobs through the economic downturn, develop new off-site manufacturing techniques and provided an international showcase for their work so that they can sell their services around the world.

Projects such as Heathrow expansion allow companies like ours to continue to invest in tens of thousands of skilled jobs this country badly needs and new construction techniques that will benefit developers in the UK.

You said recently that we cannot be complacent and assume that 鈥榯he good economic news will just keep rolling in. Last year was the worst for global growth since the crash and this year opens with a dangerous cocktail of new threats from around the world.鈥� Coupled with these threats is the OECD鈥檚 2015 UK economic survey that said the UK has spent less on infrastructure than other OECD countries over the past three decades.

Heathrow expansion will bring with it a 拢15.6bn order book to the UK supply chain. Heathrow鈥檚 new plan will also make it the most sustainable hub airport and Britain the best connected country in the world. The Government鈥檚 Airports Commission gave its clear and unanimous backing last summer. Let us help you build a better Britain by expanding Heathrow.

Regards,

Nick Roberts, Chief Executive Officer UK & Europe, Atkins

Leo Quinn, Group Chief Executive, Balfour Beatty

Stephen Fox CBE, Chief Executive, BAM Nuttall Ltd

Alasdair Reisner, Chief Executive, Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)

Mario Mostoles, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Ferrovial Agroman

Toby Courtauld, Chief Executive, Great Portland Estates plc

Ray O鈥橰ourke KBE, Chairman and Group Chief Executive, Laing O鈥橰ourke Plc

Mark Reynolds, Chief Executive, Mace

Nick Fletcher, Managing Director Infrastructure, Morgan Sindall

Keith Howells, Chairman, Mott MacDonald

David Sleath, Chief Executive, SEGRO