Heathrow unveils £650m extra spend as Brexit starting gun fired

Heathrow airport has unveiled £650m extra investment planned for 2019 - the year Britain will leave the EU - in what it described as a “major signal of confidence in the UK economy”.

The airport, which is also working up plans for a third runway under £17.6bn expansion plans, said the funds will be spent on infrastructure improvements, including possible enabling works for the expansion of Terminal Two.

The funds have been made available by Heathrow Airport’s shareholders, which include UK pension fund Universities Superannuation Scheme and the Qatar Investment Authority.

Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, chief executive of Qatar Investment Authority said: “Our investment in Heathrow is much more than just an investment in one of the world’s great airports - it’s an investment in Britain’s connections to the world.

“As the UK reshapes its role in the world, we confirm our commitment as proud partners of a great trading nation.”