Senior minsters yesterday approved plans to build a third runway at Heathrow airport. The ministers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the plans describing their backing as an “historic moment”.

Theresa May while speaking to Cabinet yesterday said that the decision “demonstrates our commitment to delivering the jobs and major infrastructure projects the country needs to thrive”.

She added that it would ensure post-Brexit Britain remained “outward looking and one of the world’s best-connected nations”. The Evening Standard Reported.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was the only minister who opposed the plans. He had previously threatened to “lie down in front of bulldozers” to stop the building of the runway.

In a letter written to Ministers, Mrs. May said that those with longstanding  objections to a third runway will be permitted to restate their views at a local level but not to campaign actively against the decision.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said £2.6billion has been set aside for compensation and noise abatement measures.

In a statement to the Evening Standard Grayling said, “London is already one of the most vibrant, outward-looking and innovative cities in the world, but expansion at Heathrow would allow our capital to hit new heights. 

“A third runway would mean more than a quarter of a million new flights straight into Heathrow each year, strengthening our links with countries around the world, connecting the UK with emerging markets and bringing jobs and investment.  And it would also provide more flights between London and the rest of the UK.”

Members of parliament are required to vote on the issue before July 11. Grayling told MPs, “the time for action is now”.

The debate on whether Heathrow should be expanded has been ongoing for 20 years.  The Conservative-Lib coalition, which was formed after the 2010 election, put the expansion plans on hold for five years. The current government backs the expansion plans.

By Airport Pickups London