Overview
- On Thursday the government published the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement and opened a roughly ten-week public consultation that sets out the formal route for seeking permission for a third runway.
- The document requires any proposal to meet four binding tests covering UK-wide economic benefit, compatibility with the country's legally binding climate targets, no new breaches of air quality limits, and no increase in noise beyond a 2024 baseline.
- Ministers say the step is a milestone toward a final planning decision targeted for 2029 and that construction should start within this parliament with the runway built by about 2035 if the tests are met.
- Two competing schemes remain in play: Heathrow Airport Limited favours a 3,500m runway that would require rerouting the M25 and is costed at about £33 billion, while the Arora-backed plan proposes a shorter 2,800m runway and a phased build to avoid moving the motorway.
- Supporters point to up to £40–42 billion in wider benefits, extra flights and jobs, while the Mayor of London, local MPs and campaigners warn the consultation is too short and say the air quality and climate safeguards in the draft do not fully address local environmental and noise impacts.