Andy Burnham Casts Doubt on Heathrow Third Runway Expansion Andy Burnham questions the Heathrow third runway expansion, suggesting it is a matter for London, despite Labour's support and a consultation ending September 1. Andy Burnham has raised fresh doubts about the Heathrow Airport expansion, just weeks after the Chancellor backed the scheme. In an interview as the Labour conference gets under way, he repeatedly refused to endorse building a third runway, suggesting it was a matter for London and that the Government was waiting for the outcome of a consultation. Burnham Questions Heathrow ExpansionAsked on the BBC whether he supported the project, Burnham said that principally it is a matter for London and Londoners. Pressed further, he continued that it is not right for him to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation. He added that it is right to hear what people have said through the consultation, and then consider the way forward from there.However, John Healey told the Commons earlier this month that the Government supports the project. He stated that after years of delay, years of indecision, years of often vexatious challenge, they have given the go-ahead to this project quite simply because the economic case stacks up and will help bring growth.The plans to expand the UK's largest airport have long been opposed by climate experts and Mayor of London Lord Khan. Heathrow Airport bosses want to obtain permission to build a full-length, 3,500-metre runway, which would require the M25 motorway being moved.Burnham has a record of attacks on the proposal going back years. In January last year the then-Manchester mayor branded it a model for an ever-overheating UK economy, warning it could not come at the expense of essential investment in northern infrastructure. In 2018 he said he was against a third runway at Heathrow because of the need to limit national levels of aviation, and that spare capacity at Manchester and Birmingham should be used instead. The following year he warned that the expansion would trap infrastructure spending inside the M25 for 10 years.In June former chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was determined to get spades in the ground for the third runway in the current Parliament, and for it to be built by 2035. However, that timing looks to be slipping with suggestions that 2039 is the earliest possible date. Heathrow insists the project will create jobs, unlock growth and make travel more affordable.A public consultation on the Government's Heathrow expansion national policy statement closed on September 1. The Government is expected to consider the feedback before deciding on the next steps.Heathrow Runway Timeline and ConsultationThe proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport is a long-standing and contentious infrastructure project. It aims to expand capacity at the UK's busiest airport, which operates at near full capacity. Supporters argue that expansion is vital for maintaining the UK's global connectivity and boosting economic growth. The project would involve significant construction work, including rerouting a section of the M25 motorway to accommodate the new runway.Opponents, including environmental groups and local residents, argue that expansion would increase carbon emissions and noise pollution, contradicting the UK's climate commitments. The Labour Party's stance on the issue has been mixed, with some senior figures expressing support while others, like Burnham, remain skeptical. The consultation, which ended on September 1, gathered public opinions on the national policy statement, a key document that outlines the Government's position on the expansion. The outcome of the consultation will inform the final decision, which is expected in the coming months. The project's timeline has already been pushed back, with 2039 now seen as the earliest possible completion date, raising questions about the feasibility of the original 2035 target. As the Labour conference continues, further debates on infrastructure and climate policy are anticipated.