Almost half of the British electorate, 46 per cent, support a third runway at Heathrow Airport, according to recent polling by City AM/Freshwater Strategy. The data also shows that 20 per cent of voters oppose the expansion, with 32 per cent remaining neutral.
Support for the project is higher in London, where 63 per cent of those surveyed back the expansion. Voters across various political parties, including Labour, Conservative, Reform UK, and Liberal Democrat, show more support than opposition for the new runway.
The expansion, first proposed in 1946, has been a long-standing discussion. Transport officials are currently preparing a national policy statement that will detail the expansion and conditions for local authorities and Heathrow. This document will require a vote from MPs before a formal planning application can be made.
Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has stated that investors seek a full commitment from the government by the end of the year. The airport's chiefs suggest the new runway could create 100,000 jobs and provide economic benefits across the UK, despite a government analysis downgrading initial growth impact assessments.