Maybe sufficient of us over the years have seen all the
PR.spin on big projects, how we would all benefit for it later never to materialise
So 20%+ tax income on a privately funded project is not a benefit to the uk?
An extra runway around London has only ever been thought of as being at Lhr as when this idea got serious, BAA owned all the airports around London and were only interested in expanding Lhr as that was their pet project.
Pet Project? Heathrow was based mainly on business travellers. Gatwick was holiday charters and Stansted Loco. That is how they separated them up Heathrow is also well connected to central London and when Crossrail came along, ideally placed for a connection improving access even more. Why would they choose any other to upgrade to a major hub?
Multiple flights per week available from China to Heathrow for years. Barely anyhing economic impact up North. The moment MAN got it's Beijing link, exponential growth in trade and tourism to/from China happened. That is why it's a fallacy to think that an expanded LHR is the answer to the North's socio-economic development. Those northern airports hankering for a London link are just in denial about what is best for their region.
Thank you, you have just explained why Heathrow expansion is such a good idea, Create easier connections to the regions and, as you say, growth follows. The fact MAN can support a Beijing link is good news and will hopefully lead to more investment. Other cities however are not viable from MAN. Other regional's cannot support a Beijing connection. This is why an easier transfer through LHR will be so important.
It seems to me that those around MAN want all this access and growth for themselves.