2nd LD Writethru: Twenty-bln-USD third runway project at Heathrow backed by British gov't

The British government Tuesday backed a 20 billion-U.S.dollar project for a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport as its option for increasing air capacity in South East England.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced the decision ahead of making a statement to the House of Commons.

On earlier Tuesday, the cabinet, meeting at 10 Downing Street, gave its support to the expansion at Heathrow, though there was strong opposition in the cabinet, particularly from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, former mayor of London.

Although the government approval for the third runway option is a critical stage in the long-running saga, a lengthy consultation process will now start. Members of parliament are not expected to make a final decision for at least a year.

Grayling described the third runway option at Heathrow as the best decision for the country. He termed the decision as truly momentous and said expansion would improve Britain's connections with the rest of the world and support trade and jobs.

Prime Minister Theresa May said it was a decision made "for jobs and growth and showed that post-Brexit Britain will be an open, global, successful country".

May said: "After decades of delay, we are showing that we will take the big decisions when they're the right decisions for Britain, and we will ensure they're right for ordinary working people too."

"Airport expansion is vital for the economic future of the whole of the UK and today also provides certainty to Londoners. Businesses will know that we are building the infrastructure they need to access global markets."

As well as already being one of the world's busiest airports and the busiest in Europe, Heathrow also handles a quarter of all goods exported from Britain, making it one of the country's biggest cargo ports.

The decision on Tuesday caused dismay among villagers living in communities in and around Heathrow. Many have been fighting an expansion of Heathrow since plans were first put forward in the 1990s.

If the project crosses many opposition hurdles that lay ahead, it will lead to the demolition of hundreds of homes, with several long-established villages virtually disappearing.

But backers of Heathrow expansion say a third runway will increase capacity, create 76,000 jobs and earn billions of dollars for the British economy.

Three potential options were presented to the government, including extending one of the existing two runways at Heathrow and increasing capacity at London's rival airport, Gatwick.

The third runway option was the scheme most opponents dreaded, saying it will have the biggest impact.

Boris Johnson said he would continue to oppose the Heathrow plan, while leading Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is considering resigning and standing in a by-election as an anti-Heathrow independent candidate.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We welcome the news that Heathrow is the government's preferred site for a new runway and look forward to hearing the full details later from the Transport Secretary."

"Expansion of Heathrow is the only option that will connect all the UK to global growth, helping to build a stronger and fairer economy."

"Heathrow stands ready to work with government, businesses, airlines and our local communities to deliver an airport that is fair, affordable and secures the benefits of expansion for the whole of the UK," the spokesperson added. Endit