When a third runway for Heathrow was first proposed by the government back in 2003, the Transport Secretary of the day, Alistair Darling, acknowledged that expanding what was already the busiest airport in Europe would be controversial in terms of climate change targets and noise pollution.

Mr Darling was adamant, however, that the economic case for a third runway was cast iron: the global competitiveness of UK business was a stake, he said, mooting a completion date of 2015 to 2020.

To say that much water has flowed under the bridge since that time is an understatement, of course. No one in 2003 predicted the banking crisis of 2008, let alone Brexit. But the fact that it has taken 13 years to even make a decision on Heathrow expansion – Gatwick, the cheaper option, was also under consideration – raises serious concerns about the complex nature of big infrastructure projects in the 21st century. Whether political tensions between the economy and the environment can ever truly be reconciled remains to be seen, of course.

But it finally fell to Theresa May to grasp the nettle, and the fact that a decision has at last been made is surely to be welcomed. So, Heathrow it is.

Not surprisingly, business and union leaders have welcomed the decision, saying a third runway will support trade and create tens of thousands of jobs. This is particularly important now, of course, at a time of economic uncertainty following Brexit, and quite possibly the prime reason Mrs May opted for Heathrow despite the fact her own local Tory-led council looks likely to challenge the decision in court.

The move is also set to create further division in her party, with high profile figures such as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith, set against it.

Unusually, however, Mrs May can look to Nicola Sturgeon for support on this one. The Scottish Government has made clear its full backing for the expansion following commitments on jobs and proposed increase in flights between Scotland and Heathrow.

Growth in the Scottish economy also relies on better infrastructure, of course, never more so than now. Neither the Scottish nor UK governments must be allowed to use increased air capacity as an excuse to become complacent about other much-needed transport improvements – the most pressing of which would entail the UK’s creaking rail network.

Indeed, to make the most of the economic opportunities presented by Heathrow expansion it is imperative that a similarly ambitious plan is put in place to ensure our railways are ready to play their part in all this growth. There are surely few who would argue that Scotland’s rail network is fit for the 21st century demands currently being made of it, never mind future growth.

With this in mind, the Scottish government must be more forceful in holding ScotRail Abellio and Network Rail to account.

Heathrow’s third runway must benefit the whole of the UK; it’s up to Ms Sturgeon as well as Mrs May to make sure this happens.