Heathrow has announced an invitation to independent experts to oversee its coming expansion in real-time, as it gears up to deliver its wider plan responsibly through private investment.
New proposals for joint independent assurance set out by the airport will aid in the creation of an expert panel that will participate directly in Heathrow’s key decision making forums, checking its approach and giving independent advice and challenge to ensure the best outcome for consumers.
The panel would comprise technical experts from a wide range of sectors, including engineering, property, planning, legal, finance and procurement, with each jointly appointed by Heathrow and airlines following approval by the CAA.
Heathrow has stated that it has learnt from mistakes made by previous megaprojects such as HS2, with real-time independent analysis from experts in their field planned to allow Heathrow to adapt to live feedback, avoiding delays or cost increases from late-stage developments.
Panel input would be shared with Heathrow, airlines, the CAA and Government at the same time, enabling full transparency.
Heathrow’s 33 billion GBP expansion plans are now ready to proceed with support from Government and the CAA, with construction set to see billions of private money enter the UK-wide supply chain set to design and build it.
Once operational, the expansion is expected to boost flight capacity by up to 756,000, increasing passenger numbers to 150 million – a 50% increase.
The next stage of Heathrow’s upgrade involves the receipt of assurance from the CAA regarding the way in which the expansion would be regulated.
Heathrow’s Chief Customer Officer, Ross Baker, said:We know our airline customers want a thriving expanded hub that delivers great operational performance and helps them grow their business, providing real value for money.
As we partner to deliver expansion, we would also welcome independent experts to review our decisions real time giving the regulator and airlines even more assurance that we are building the hub our customers and country needs.
