Liberal Democrats pledge to ban airport expansion and deliver rail electrification

New Civil Engineer
Tom Pasby
11 June 2024

The Liberal Democrats’ election manifesto has pledged a crack down on the aviation industry and a significant boost for rail travel if elected.

There will be no expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted or London City airports, and no new airport in the Thames Estuary if the party is elected to government, but it will deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail “to connect cities across the North of England” alongside a 10 year plan for rail electrification.

Regarding commitments to infrastructure, it says the party would require “the National Infrastructure Commission [NIC] to take fully into account the environmental implications of all national infrastructure decisions” despite the NIC not having the sort of power implied by the statement.

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