Heathrow Launches Public Consultation on Airport Expansion

Heathrow will run an eight-week public consultation from April to June so that it can finalise its proposals for adding a third runway.

Heathrow says it will run the public consultation following the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) decision to cap early spending on the project. Capping spending has prolonged the construction period of a third runway. It also means Heathrow will need to perform updated modelling on key aspects, such as public transport links to and from the airport. This modelling would demonstrate that the project could meet Airports National Policy Statement targets.

The purpose of the consultation is to give residents in the surrounding communities the ability to provide feedback. Heathrow says it will write to local authorities in the next few weeks to give them more information and offer them the ability to provide feedback as well. All responses will be taken into account in the final planning application, which will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate towards the end of 2020.

Planning Application

The planning application Heathrow will submit will show in detail how the airport intends to expand and connect Britain to the rest of the world, while meeting the ANPS targets. Heathrow is committed to meeting strict environmental targets, delivering tens of thousands of new high-skilled jobs and honouring commitments to local communities.

Heathrow expansion aerial

© Heathrow

Should Heathrow’s plans receive approval by the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate, then the third runway should open towards the end of the decade – between early 2028 and late 2029.

Heathrow will soon make public dates and locations for the consultation events. The airport is also preparing to become one of the first major international airports to operate carbon-neutral infrastructure.