Incredible £38bn project to build new airport in the middle of a British river | United Kingdom | News
A radical new proposal to build an airport in the middle of the River Thames has sparked controversy and debate in the UK over the years.
The ambitious and costly £38bn plan has emerged as an alternative to London Heathrow Airport’s (LHR) controversial third runway, which has been the subject of heated debate for years.
Former London mayor and prime minister Boris Johnson, a staunch opponent of Heathrow expansion, once said he would lie down in front of bulldozers to stop the third runway.
Johnson instead suggested a new airport in the Thames Estuary or the expansion of London Stansted Airport (STN) as the only viable solutions.
The idea of building a four-runway airport on the Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary was put forward by Johnson as a way to ensure future connectivity and growth without serious impacts on public health.
“If we are to secure the connectivity we need to support our future growth and prosperity and do so without disastrous impacts on public health, then we must do better than Heathrow,” Johnson said.
“Our analysis predicts that they would deliver around double the number of long-haul and domestic destinations served by Heathrow today, while exposing 95% fewer people to high aircraft noise. A four-runway hub in east London, rather than disrupting London’s growth, will support it, catalysing regeneration and housing in the east.”
Despite this bold vision, the project has faced strong opposition. Critics say building an airport in the Thames Estuary would pose significant risks and challenges, likely to burden taxpayers.
According to reports, building the new airport would require the closure of Heathrow, leading to compensation claims of more than £21 billion from its owners. In addition, improvements to road and rail infrastructure could cost up to £17 billion.
In its assessment, the Airports Commission expressed serious doubts about the feasibility of the project. Its report stated that the Thames Estuary Airport project had significant disadvantages that outweighed its potential benefits.
“We are not convinced that a very large airport in the Thames Estuary is the right answer to the connectivity needs of London and the UK,” the committee said, highlighting the risks of delays, cost overruns and uncertainty about the economic and strategic benefits.
With the previous Conservative government, including former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pushing for a third runway at Heathrow, and Labour’s focus on national investment, the future of the Thames Estuary airport remains uncertain – but it seems unlikely that the project will ever come to fruition.
For now, this ambitious project may well remain a bold idea, with Heathrow’s third runway appearing to be the most likely route. In fact, airport officials have confirmed in recent days that the project “will happen”.
