It is possible, that as part of the Government Regional Growth Fund (RGF) plans, Birmingham Airport could receive around £15 million for the cost of its runway extension and associated infrastructure.

As part of Birmingham Airport’s new runway plans the airport will need to divert the A45 Coventry Road to enable the 350m runway extension to be built.

Local business leaders and council officials are to approach the Government of funding from the RGF programme.

The funding will contribute to the major costs associated with moving the A45, which is expensive and according to reports holding up the extension project. Currently, the A45 funding is expected from various sources – the Passenger Transport Authority, Centro who will give £10m, Birmingham Airport has promised funding of £7m of the project and Birmingham City Council offered £15m. However, since these pledges Government funding has been drastically cut and now the Council funding is in doubt.

With the runway extension it is hoped that Birmingham Airport can be a competitor to the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports in offering direct flights to China, India and the west coast of America.