The government’s decision to abandon plans for a third runway at Heathrow could significantly damage Britain’s competitiveness, an engineering lobby group has warned.
     The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) said the government’s approach to airport capacity could “seriously undermine the UK’s global connectivity and competitiveness, and see us lagging behind North European rivals.”
     In a detailed report entitled, ‘Rethinking Aviation’, it calls on the government to “think carefully about the UK’s long-term airport infrastructure needs and the wider implications of its decision.”
     The report says: “As a trading island nation and depends on its ability to connect with the rest of the world”.
     In one of its first acts on taking power, the coalition government scrapped plans for a third runway at Heathrow along with other planned aviation development plans for the South East – despite protests from BAA, airlines and business groups.
     “World class airport infrastructure helps attract inward investment, enables access to an international labour force and provides direct business and leisure links to growing economic and cultural centres around the world.
     “However, runway capacity at the busiest airports in the south east of England is severely constrained.
     “This not only causes delays but impedes the UK’s global connectivity, and our ability to attract new long-haul services to and from emerging economies.”
     But the Ice report agreed that “unrestrained growth in demand for air travel without quick improvements in aircraft efficiency would damage the environment.”
     It suggested one way of restricting demand was to increase the cost of flying by the government imposing a minimum carbon price for aircraft.
     It also urged more use of alternative transport methods, including rail networks.
     Simon Godfrey-Arnold, an ICE aviation expert and one of the authors of the report, said: “We agree the green agenda must be priority, and realise that when it comes to the UK’s airport infrastructure needs, there are some tough political and public choices.
     “But we believe there are choices that can secure the best outcomes for the environment, society and the economy.”