HEATHROW expansion cannot be the quick fix to the economy, campaigners warned today after the government backed a new multibillion-pound investment programme.

The airport’s chief executive Thomas Woldbye announced funding for upgrades and expansion ahead of its proposal for a third runway, expected to be submitted to the government this summer.

The government said that the investment programme will secure thousands of steel jobs by increasing the demand for British-made steel.

But polling by climate charities suggests a majority of the public believes expansion is the “wrong priority,” with 67 per cent of respondents also saying they did not see much, if any, benefit to taxpayers.

No Third Runway Coalition chairman Paul McGuinness called the announcement “almost Orwellian,” arguing that the government had relied on a Heathrow-commissioned report to promote the project rather than its own Treasury assessment.

He highlighted that the official assessment found the project’s maximum economic benefit to Britain would be between minus £2.2 billion and £3.3bn over 60 years, once costs were factored in.

“After all, the costs of demolishing villages, diverting roads and rivers and tunnelling over the M25’s busiest junction, to increase Heathrow’s size by an area that is larger than Birmingham International Airport, promises to be inordinately expensive,” he said.

Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said that the “real winners” will be Mr Woldbye and “the rest of the polluting aviation industry.”

“The only ‘perks’ for most people will be noise, air pollution and climate emissions,” he said.

Dr Parr said a third runway is “bad economics,” saying: “Instead of picking up any old polluting project from the discard pile, the Chancellor should focus on green industries that can attract investment and bring economic and social benefits for years to come, like secure jobs, affordable energy bills and cheaper, better transport.”

Unions have long supported the expansion and welcomed the announcement.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham urged the government to ensure that publicly funded projects prioritise British steel, saying: “Protecting our steel industry is essential to boost our economy and in the interest of national security.

“With [US President Donald] Trump introducing steel tariffs next month the government needs to act quickly.”

GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast said that an expanded Heathrow is “crucial for our country’s future prosperity.”

“The extra runway will create tens of thousands of good, union jobs, and benefit communities everywhere,” he said.