{
  "id": 10205973,
  "title": "Andy Burnham refuses to back third runway at Heathrow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/andy-burnham-refuses-to-back-third-runway-at-heathrow",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-27T11:22:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvrl6y8rx08wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Andy Burnham has not expressed support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport following the revelation that the expansion could be delayed by up to four years. The expansion, which Burnham opposed as Mayor of Greater Manchester, was initially projected to open by 2035. However, Heathrow indicated that the new runway may not be operational until 2039.\n\nDuring his first annual Labour Party conference, Burnham emphasized the importance of listening to local voices when making decisions about the project. Heathrow Airport concurred with Burnham's stance, stating that local communities support their expansion plans, with support only growing over time.\n\nThe £33 billion project has faced opposition from environmental campaigners and local resident groups, as well as from London's Mayor Sadiq Khan. The construction of a third runway would involve demolishing hundreds of homes, diverting rivers, and rerouting a section of the M25 motorway through a tunnel. However, the expansion is projected to create 100,000 jobs and significantly boost the UK economy.\n\nUnions Unite and the GMB have supported the idea of a third runway at Heathrow. Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, stated that a third runway is essential and that they need to move forward with the project. She added that it is not just about infrastructure, but also about creating good, unionized jobs and ensuring a steady market for UK steel.\n\nHeathrow Airport acknowledged that meeting the original deadline for the expansion would become increasingly challenging without further simplification of the planning process. The airport hopes to secure planning permission by 2029 and open the runway within a decade. The Department for Transport acknowledged that the timeline had always been ambitious and would continue to work with stakeholders promptly on the matter.",
  "summary": "Andy Burnham said he would wait for the results of a consultation on a scheme estimated to cost £33bn",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Andy Burnham talks about ‘public control’ of the utilities but it’s a minefield. We can lead him through it | Will Hutton and Andy Haldane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/andy-burnham-talks-about-public-control-of-the-utilities-but-its-a",
        "published": "2026-09-25T05:00:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Politico EU",
        "title": "Burnham plans first Berlin visit for talks with Merz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/burnham-plans-first-berlin-visit-for-talks-with-merz",
        "published": "2026-09-25T12:28:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}