Government agrees final proposal for Heathrow expansion

Today (Tuesday, 5 June) Ministers have set out final proposals to back Heathrow expansion – moving Britain a significant step closer to more flights, more jobs and greater economic growth.

Marking an important milestone in building a global Britain, the Government has published the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), backing Heathrow expansion through developing a new Northwest Runway. 

Under the proposal, expansion will be delivered in a cost-efficient and sustainable way, with a comprehensive package of measures to support affected communities and protect the environment.

Heathrow will be privately financed and costs will not fall on the taxpayer. To make sure expansion is delivered with consumers’ interests at heart, the Government has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure the scheme remains affordable while meeting the needs of passengers. 

A new runway at Heathrow would provide benefits of up to £74 billion to passengers and the wider economy and create tens of thousands of local jobs. It will better connect the UK to the rest of world with an extra 16 million long haul seats available by 2040.  

Heathrow is already the UK’s biggest airport for passengers and freight and the Northwest Runway will almost double the airport’s capacity for goods, allowing businesses across the country to increase their exports and take advantage of new global customers. 

The benefits of expanding Heathrow will be felt across the country as there will be more flights around the UK, better connecting Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North and the South West to new global markets via London. 

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

“Expansion at Heathrow presents a unique opportunity to deliver a multi-billion pound boost to our economy, strengthen our global links and maintain our position as a world leader in aviation. 

“As we leave the EU, the UK must remain one of the world’s best-connected and outward-looking countries and a third runway at Heathrow is the best option to deliver this.   

“We have listened to views through our consultations and will ensure a world-class package of measures to help any local communities affected by the expansion.”  

The NPS takes into account public and industry feedback and recommendations made by the Transport Committee to ensure that airport expansion in the South East will be delivered in a way that is cost-efficient, sustainable and in passengers’ best interests.

This includes a world-class package of compensation and mitigation measures to support those affected by the expansion, with up to £2.6bn for compensation, noise insulation and community amenities, which could include improvements to parks and leisure facilities.

These are reinforced by plans for a 6.5 hour scheduled night flight ban and noise restrictions which will be legally enforceable.

The Government has also announced the creation of a new Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise, which will be an independent expert voice on noise issues, acting as a link between airport operators, airlines and local communities.  

To protect the environment, development consent would only be granted on the basis that the new runway is delivered within existing air quality obligations.

Over the next few weeks Parliament will have the opportunity to debate and vote on the NPS.

The Government has also today committed to supporting all airports beyond Heathrow making best use of their existing runways, including those in the South East, as long as they address economic and environmental planning issues.

Notes to editors:

• ·         Digital content is available for your use at http://bit.ly/HEContent
• ·         In September 2012 the coalition government established the independent Airports Commission to examine the scale and likely timing of any requirement for additional capacity to maintain the UK’s position as Europe’s most important aviation hub. The Commission was also asked to identify and evaluate how any need for additional capacity should be met in the short, medium and long term. 
• ·         The Airports Commission concluded there was a need for one additional runway to be in operation in the South East of England by 2030, and considered a shortlist of three schemes; a new Northwest Runway at Heathrow, an Extended Northern Runway at Heathrow, and a new Second Runway at Gatwick. 
• ·         The Commission concluded that the proposal for a North West Runway at Heathrow Airport, combined with a significant package of measures to address its environmental and community impacts, presented the strongest case, and offered the greatest strategic and economic benefits.
• ·         On 25 October 2016, the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, confirmed that the Government’s preferred scheme for adding new runway capacity in the South East is through a new Northwest Runway at Heathrow Airport, in line with the recommendation made by the independent Airports Commission, and that the policy for this would be brought forward by way of a draft national policy statement (NPS) which would be subject to public consultation.
• ·         The Government then conducted two periods of public consultation on successive drafts of the NPS, receiving over 80,000 responses in total, as well as the proposals undergoing scrutiny from the Transport Committee.
• ·         The Government also appointed Sir Jeremy Sullivan, the former Senior President of Tribunals and a former Court of Appeal judge, to provide independent oversight of both consultations.
• ·         The NPS lays down the planning policies which the applicant for a new Northwest Runway would have to comply with in order to get development consent. It also sets out the need for additional airport capacity in the South East and the reasons why a Northwest Runway at Heathrow is the Government’s preferred scheme.
• ·         The next step, if the House of Commons approves the NPS through a vote and it is then designated by the Secretary of State, will be for the applicant to develop its planning application, which will involve further opportunities for the public to have their say on the detail of the expansion proposals.
• ·         Through development of its Aviation Strategy the Government has committed to working with airports and airlines to make Britain’s aviation sector world-leading in prioritising passengers, fostering sustainable growth and promoting trade.