Mr Drechsler said a new runway in the southeast 鈥渃an help transform the next decade of British construction鈥�.
Speaking at the Airport Operators鈥� Association Conference yesterday, he was not so bold as to say where he thought the new runway should be built, but urged a decision to be made and a timetable to be set out.
In July the Airport Commission published its final report to government recommending that a third runway be built at Heathrow Airport in preference to a second runway at Gatwick. The government has committed to making a decision of some kind by the end of the year.
Mr Drechsler said: 鈥淓very day, month and year we delay building a new runway has a price 鈥� in lost trade. But a new runway doesn鈥檛 just help businessmen and women close deals in faraway lands. It鈥檚 about jobs and growth for people and firms right across the United Kingdom.
鈥淭o provide the skilled workers, makers and exporters of tomorrow though, we need to push for brave, political leadership today. Our window of opportunity is closing fast. We welcomed the prime minister鈥檚 commitment to a decision by Christmas, so want to see a clear decision and timetable set by government.
鈥淎nything less would be a continuation of the 鈥榥ot in my generation鈥� approach which got us into this mess in the first-place. We can鈥檛 pass the buck on Britain鈥檚 future any longer. The buck stops here, with us. We are the ones who will have to make this change happen, so it鈥檚 crucial we all work together to get it built.鈥�
Paul Drechsler was chief executive of Wates from 2006 until last year. He told the airport operators: 鈥淏uilding a new runway today can help transform the next decade of British construction. Wherever it is built, the benefits would be felt right across the UK through supply chains, creating jobs in, and opportunity for, businesses small, medium and large.
鈥淟ook at the construction of Heathrow鈥檚 recently completed Terminal 2. The structural steelwork for the roof was made by firms in both Lancashire and Yorkshire. Over 5,000 direction signs were made by a company in Exeter.
鈥淭he Airports Commission estimate that a new runway in the southeast could create up to 94,900 manufacturing jobs. This has the real potential to leave a legacy of British construction excellence that can then be exported right across the globe.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚n building a new runway, we wouldn鈥檛 just be laying asphalt. We鈥檇 be laying the foundations for the skilled workforce of the future, training tomorrow鈥檚 electricians, engineers and mechanics the country will need in the long-term.鈥�
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