Burnham’s new chief of staff ran City firm advising Thames Water and rival Heathrow bidder Advisory Andy Burnham’s likely chief of staff will move to Downing Street from a lobbying firm that counts Thames Water and the rival bidder for Heathrow’s third runway as clients, just as ministers mull decisions that could decide both organisations’ fate. James Purnell is widely tipped to become Burnham’s most senior right-hand man should the Makerfield [...]
Ministers open door to phased Heathrow third runway plan Aviation Heathrow’s third runway expansion may be built over several phases in a bid to hit the government’s ambitious timeline, opening the door to a proposal tabled by rival bidder Heathrow West. In planning documents published by the Department for Transport on Thursday, the government said that a phased construction of the mega-project may be necessary [...]
Watchdog rules Heathrow third runway could be built by rival bidder Aviation Heathrow will lose its decades-old monopoly over building and operating new projects at the airport under new proposals tabled by the aviation watchdog, paving the way for a rival operator to build the third runway and new terminal. As part of a review of the airport’s red tape conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority, the [...]
Businesses back Heathrow bid to run third runway November 18, 2025 A group of well-known firms has urged ministers to approve the third runway expansion plan tabled by the owner of Heathrow airport, arguing its plan will deliver “the greatest economic benefit to the UK”. In a letter to transport secretary Heidi Alexander, bosses from the likes of Burberry, Caffe Nero and Fortnum and Mason threw [...]
Third runway shortlist revealed as ministers push for fast take-off October 22, 2025 The transport secretary has shortlisted two potential operators to oversee the development of Heathrow’s third runway as part of an overhaul of the planning process that she hopes will speed up the megaproject’s delivery. Heidi Alexander told MPs on Wednesday that bids from incumbent operator Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) and the ‘Heathrow West’ proposal from [...]
Surinder Arora: Heathrow could be the next Thames Water September 17, 2025 Surinder Arora is the man bidding to break a decades-old monopoly by winning the right to build Heathrow’s third runway. With the government’s first remarks on proposals expected this month, he sits down with Ali Lyon to discuss the merits of his proposal, the reasons behind it, and why he thinks that – without urgent [...]
Rival Heathrow bid drafts in Changi in effort to win runway contract September 2, 2025 The man behind an ambitious plan to break up Heathrow’s decades-long monopoly has partnered with the world’s number one airport to bolster its bid to win the much-coveted contract to build the hub’s third runway. Surinder Arora, the hotel tycoon behind a rival expansion bid dubbed Heathrow West, has drafted in the help of experts [...]