Teddington Action Group prepares for “first of many” judicial reviews of Government decision on Heathrow runway
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Community Group prepares for “first of many” judicial reviews of Government decision on Airport Expansion
TAG issued a pre-action letter of claim (the first step in the Judicial Review process) back in June 2015, on the eve of the Airport’s Commission’s recommendation for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
Proceedings were then put on hold pending a Government decision on one of the three shortlisted options. However, today TAG re-confirmed its commitment to continue proceedings should Heathrow be chosen. One of the key grounds for its judicial review is the “apparent bias” of the Chair of the Airports Commission itself, Sir Howard Davies, flowing from his roles at GIC Private Ltd, owner of a 11.9% share in Heathrow Airport Holdings.
Background:
http://www.heathrow.com/company/company-news-and-information/company-information/the-board
2. Heathrow Board Member, Stuart Baldwin (Senior Vice President, GIC Private Limited)
3. Wikipedia Page on Sir Howard Davies, which now contains and confirms details of his roles with GIC Private Ltd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Davies_(economist)
“In 2009 Davies was appointed as advisor to the Investment Strategy Committee of the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore. Two years later he joined its International Advisory Board. Davies resigned from both positions in September 2012, on appointment to the chair of the Airports Commission”.
Teddington Action Group Pre-Action Letter of Claim is to be sent after the Government’s decision, should it select one of the two Heathrow shortlisted options.
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See earlier:
Independence of Airports Commission questioned over Howard Davies’ role in Prudential, which recently bought more Heathrow property
Campaigners against a 3rd Heathrow runway have questioned the independence of the Airports Commission and its chairman, Howard Davies. It has been revealed that he is a board member of Prudential, an insurance group which invested in property near Heathrow, just months before the Commission recommended a 3rd runway. He chairs its risk committee, which reviews and approves group investment policies as well as advising the board on risks in the company’s “strategic transactions and business plans”. The Guardian reports that Prudential embarked on a £300m spending spree on properties around Heathrow, just as the commission prepared to deliver its final report, on 1st July. Prudential has an asset management business, M&G. In 2013 it bought the Hilton hotel at Terminal 5 for £21m and an earlier investment with planning permission for a large hotel close to where the proposed 3rd runway would be built. In May and June 2015 M&G bought more property including cargo depots and a business park a short distance from Terminal 4. Howard Davies also, till September 2012, advised the GIC (Singapore), which owns 11.2% of Heathrow. The Teddington Action Group say Davies’ links with Prudential undermines the impartiality and credibility of the Commission’s recommendations.