More than 270 firms sign open letter calling on prime minister to back new Heathrow runway

More than 270 firms including contractors Bam Nuttall, Mace and Morgan Sindall have backed a third runway at Heathrow in an open letter to the prime minister.

The letter calls on David Cameron to implement the Davies Commission recommendation of a new runway at Heathrow to support businesses and maintain the status of the UK鈥檚 鈥渨ell-connected open trading economy.鈥�

Signatories on the letter include chief executives and directors from Bam Nuttall, Mace, Morgan Sindall, Babcock, Aecom and Turner & Townsend.

It says Heathrow has been 鈥渙perating at capacity for the past decade鈥� and that the lack of capacity is 鈥渉olding back UK businesses who want to fly directly to emerging markets; trade and transport their goods via air freight; create more jobs and connect to the UK鈥檚 regions.鈥�

The letter adds: 鈥淭he Commission is clear: further delay will be increasingly costly and will be seen, nationally and internationally, as a sign that the UK is unwilling or unable to take the steps needed to maintain its position as a well-connected open trading economy in the twenty first century.鈥�

Commenting on the letter, Heathrow chief executive John Holland Kaye said: 鈥淣ow the Prime Minister has the opportunity to show he is serious about delivering Britain鈥檚 long-term economic plan by listening to businesses from across the UK and backing Heathrow expansion.

鈥淭his debate has never been about a runway 鈥� it is about the future of our country. Let鈥檚 get on with it.鈥�

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