Heathrow submits plans for 3,500m third runway costing £21billion

Heathrow Airport submitted proposals for expansion to the Government yesterday (Thursday) – including its controversial third runway spanning 3,500 metres.

The move comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in January that the Labour Government backs a third runway and ‘cannot duck the decision any longer’.

But Heathrow’s owners will face competition to expand the airport – a rival proposal featuring a shorter third runway was also unveiled this week.

The prospect of Heathrow’s expansion has been the subject of fierce debate in the Royal Borough, with concerns raised over the environmental and noise impact, while advocates have championed the economic benefits for the region.

Heathrow said the new runway is expected to bring in 276,000 new flights a year. This would take the total from 480,000 to 756,000.

The whole project is expected to cost £49billion, of which £21billion will deliver the new runway and airfield.

The Government’s ambition is for planning consent to be secured by 2029 and for the new runway to be operational within a decade.

The airport plans to increase terminal capacity to 150million passengers a year, compared to 84million at the moment.

There would be a new terminal complex costing £12billlion, as well as upgrades and extensions to existing ones costing a further £15billion.

Significant investment is going into the expansion and modernisation of Heathrow overall – £33billion and £15billion respectively.

Supporting works would include realigning and widening the M25 between junctions 14-15 at Heathrow – a £1.5billion investment.

It would be built ‘offline’ 130m to the west of the current motorway – as such, it would not disrupt existing traffic during construction, says Heathrow.

In addition, Heathrow proposes building a new southern road tunnel to the Central Terminal Area, as well as an expanded bus and coach station and enhanced rail capacity.

Heathrow says it is open to discussion over how its 3,500m runway could be made shorter but still deliver the same benefits.

In addition, it says it will only deliver expansion in a way that is consistent with net-zero 2050 and will continue commitments to offer noise respite, insulation and improvements to air quality.

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “It has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow. We are effectively operating at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity.”

“With a green light from Government and the correct policy support underpinned by a fit for purpose regulatory model, we are ready to mobilise and start investing this year in our supply chain across the country.”

But this plan is not the only choice on the table; there is also a rival bid, ‘Heathrow West’, which offers a shorter runway of 2,800m.

A private group of companies, the Arora Group, has made a new company for the purpose of delivering the project, Heathrow West Ltd. It is working alongside Bechtel, which has constructed 200 airports.

This alternative design does not build over the M25 – providing ‘faster delivery, reduced costs and improved environmental impact’ and ‘avoiding the major disruption’ this would entail, Arora Group says.

Local feeling

Plans for a third runway have been in the pipeline since the early 2000s and the Royal Borough has long been against them, across both Tory and Lib Dem/Independent administrations.

In 2020, campaigners including the Borough secured a Court of Appeal victory against the Government's decision to support the expansion.

Heathrow, however, made a Supreme Court appeal against the ruling, and it was subsequently overturned, allowing Heathrow to seek planning permission for the third runway.

Windsor's past two Conservative MPs (Adam Afriyie and Jack Rankin) have also been vocally against it, as is Maidenhead's MP, Joshua Reynolds.

The Royal Borough reaffirmed its opposition to the third runway after the Government announced it supports the expansion, as did the Maidenhead and Windsor MPs.

By contrast, Slough's Labour MP, Tan Dhesi, welcomed the news, citing the economic benefits.

This month, a motion to write to the Government about Heathrow was approved by Royal Borough councillors.

It encouraged the Government to address a series of ‘major challenges’, including the impact of noise pollution, the environmental impact of flying, and the need to achieve maximum economic benefits for residents.

“Our primary demand is not unreasonable. All we are asking for is a good night’s sleep,” said Cllr Richard Coe, who brought forward the motion.

An ‘elevator pitch’ five-page mission document has also been created to outline the borough’s priorities to Heathrow – a good night’s sleep, sustainable development and a fair deal for locals.