Heathrow third runway – when will the London airport expansion go ahead and which areas would be affected?
Everything you need to know about the proposed expansion of London's busiest airport
THE expansion of Heathrow Airport has proved a controversial issue, sparking fierce debate from both sides of the political aisle.
Let's take a look at the contentious issue.
Does London Heathrow need a new runway?
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says it will allow more connecting flights with other UK airports – but there has been fierce opposition to the third runway.
The government says a new runway is necessary for the UK to be able to compete with other European cities for business investment as well as meet demands for new flights.
Published in 2015, the final report of the Airport Commission, which was led by Sir Howard Davies, concluded that a third runway at Heathrow was the best option for the future of aviation in the UK.
Heathrow is at 98 per cent capacity and Gatwick is expected to run out of space in a few years, which means that London will struggle to keep up with other European airports.
This especially affects Heathrow - as Britain's only hub airport it competes with Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid and Amsterdam.
They have enough runway capacity for 700,000 flights a year each - but at the moment Heathrow is only permitted 480,000.
A new runway would mean airlines could add new, direct flights to fast-growing markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China which are important for economic growth.
When did MPs vote on the third runway and when will it go ahead?
On June 25, 2018 MPs voted in favour of a third runway at Heathrow Airport with a 296 majority.
The vote saw 415 Ayes to 119 Noes - with the Ayes taking it.
Always a controversial issue, the vote saw 'Vote No' protesters laying on the floor of Parliament's lobby ahead of the vote in the hope of swaying undecided MPs as they entered the chamber.
The government hopes to receive final planning permission and begin construction in 2021.
They those opposed to the expansion are expected to launch a High Court challenge on the grounds that the Government's decision to support the scheme is unlawful.
A Labour victory in a general election could also cast doubt on the project, given the opposition of shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
If everything does run smoothly, airlines could begin using the new runway by the end of 2025.
What are the pros and cons to a third runway?
PROS:
- A third runway would mean Heathrow could provide 740,000 flights a year, putting the airport on an equal footing to Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam
- In order to cope with passenger capacity if a new runway is built, Heathrow is planning to build two new terminals. The first, terminal 6, will sit in the west of the airport, with an extended terminal 2 creating a new ‘Heathrow East’. According to the airport, these expansions will allow minimum connection times to be reduced from 75 minutes to 60.
- Heathrow has also said if expansion goes ahead it will be able to overhaul their cargo facilities, doubling the capacity.
- Heathrow’s rail capacity will treble from 18 to 40 trains (equivalent to 5,000 to 15,000 seats) an hour. With improvements to bus and coach services, 30 million more people will travel to Heathrow by public transport in 2030.
CONS:
- Greenpeace says London's air pollution crisis is already linked to over 9,000 premature deaths a year in the capital alone. A report commissioned by the government concluded a third runway will add to the already illegal levels of air quality in parts of West London.
- At least 750 homes will be demolished in the construction of Heathrow’s third-runway.
- Tens of thousands of people will be under new flight paths. According to campaign group HACAN, many people in West London and Berkshire could get planes for the first time for as many as 13 hours in one day.
- Heathrow has suggested that a congestion charge may need to be introduced to deal with the extra traffic on the M25, between junctions 14 and 15.
Why is the Heathrow Airport expansion decision so controversial?
The first proposals for further expansions were submitted in 1971 and since then it's been a long drawn-out process, with several other proposals, acceptances and rejections.
The decision of how to solve the problem of a lack of capacity at London's airports has taken a long time and has divided cabinet ministers.
Theresa May has given ministers "exceptional and limited" freedom to criticise the government's final decision - but they won't be allowed to campaign against it.
Downing Street said any ministers wanting to voice their opposition to the plans would have to seek permission from the Prime Minister in advance.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Justine Greening are both bitterly opposed to expanding the west London hub.
Boris famously backed "Boris Island" - plans for a new hub airport on the Thames Estuary.
He was so against expanding Heathrow that he previously pledged to "lie down" in front of bulldozers to stop the building.
Zac Goldmsith, Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, resigned when the plans were given the go-ahead.
Boris Johnson called the expansion “undeliverable”.
Which areas would be affected and what would the noise level be?
Residents in Heston, Osterley Park, Brentford and parts of Chiswick and Hammersmith are likely to be affected by the new flight path.
Homes of nearby villages including Longford, Harmondsworth and Sipson could be demolished to make space for the scheme.
John Stewart, chair of Hacan campaign group said communities will "face a tsunami of noise".
The Department for Transport said 973,000 people will be affected by noise, and by 2030, an extra 92,700 will also be impacted.
Greenpeace said MPs support for the project was "ironic" as it came on World Environment Day.
With an extra 700 planes a day, campaigners believe the runway will breach UK's legal limits on noise pollution.
Around £700million is set to be available to fund noise insulation measures for those who decide to stay.
MORE ON LONDON AIRPORT EXPANSION
What would a new runway at Heathrow mean for passengers?
Heathrow claims a new runway will increase the amount of direct and frequent long-haul destinations for passengers - with 40 new locations by 2030.
There would also be a greater choice of airlines for passengers and lower fares.
Heathrow also says that passengers would benefit from a shorter travel time as a new runway at Gatwick would have increased travel times for a huge percentage of people.
According to the , by 2030 the average return ticket price could be £300 less with the expansion as competition is increased between airlines.
Colin Matthews, Heathrow's former chief executive, told the Mail Online: "Research shows that not building a third runway at Heathrow will add hundreds of pounds to the cost of a family holiday.
"This burden on the cost of living for families is entirely avoidable.
"Government has it within its power to lower prices for consumers by taking a clear decision to support expansion and end the years of prevarication that are now causing fares to rise and routes to be constrained."
Another spokesperson at Heathrow added: "There will be two main passenger terminals and transport hubs – Heathrow West (Terminals 5 and 6) and Heathrow East (an extended Terminal 2) – connected by an underground passenger transit and baggage system.
";The minimum connection times between terminals will fall from 75 to 60 minutes."
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