This expansion will make a huge difference, not just to the UK and London economies – which will be boosted by £1.5bn a year by 2023– but also to the London Borough of Newham, which will benefit from the creation of over 1,500 jobs plus a further 500 construction jobs. Some 84% of local residents regard the airport as an asset, and three quarters of London firms support the airport’s plans to expand. Since it opened 29 years ago, the airport has played a major role in the regeneration of the Docklands and helping to shift London’s economic centre of gravity eastwards. Today’s decision will act as a further catalyst to that shift.
“LCY Means Business” (Sept 2015) – filmed and produced by PLMR
This is the culmination of over two years’ hard campaigning, trying to differentiate LCY’s plans from the wider, divisive and often toxic debate about Heathrow and Gatwick. Expansion was supported by the London Borough of Newham, all the major business groups, the vast majority of local residents and even City Hall’s planning department – but the former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, decided to play politics with the planning application, delaying a decision and requiring LCY to get Government approval after an appeal. PLMR is proud to have worked with LCY – the team at the airport are an amazing group of talented professionals, and the airport has an amazing story to tell about the work it does creating employment opportunities for local residents and working with community groups – and to have helped deliver such a transformational outcome for the airport, its customers, and for London.
“London City have worked with PLMR for the past two years, and I’ve been personally impressed by not only their insight and application, but also the levels of creativity they bring to the table in order to gain campaign traction.”
Liam McKay, Head of Public Affairs, London City Airport
LCY Expansion in the media
BBC News
Evening Standard
Reuters