Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomes initial proposals for Heathrow expansion

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

“I am pleased to have received the initial Heathrow expansion proposals - a significant step towards unlocking growth, creating jobs, and delivering vital national infrastructure to drive forward our Plan for Change.

“We'll consider the proposals carefully over the summer so that we can begin a review of the Airports National Policy Statement later this year.”

Background

• In January, the Chancellor invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow, to be brought forward this summer by proposers to enable Development Consent this Parliament and an operational third runway by 2035.
• The Department set a deadline of the 31st July for potential promoters to submit initial proposals. This runs till midnight on the 31st.
• Once proposals have been submitted, we will assess these against the criteria set out in the letter inviting proposals. Once this is complete the Government will review the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS). 
• The ANPS provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow, to ensure that any scheme is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate obligations.
• It will be for scheme promoters to decide when to submit any Development Consent Order application for a third runway scheme depending on the outcome of the ANPS review.