The next stage of consultation on Heathow’s third runway expansion plans will start on June 18.
The date for the statutory twelve and a half week consultation was confirmed today following the High Court’s dismissal of legal challenges against expansion of the London hub.
The responses received will feed into a final planning application in 2020.
A final decision will be made by the government following a public examination period led by planning authorities.
The upcoming consultation will seek feedback on four areas:
- Heathrow’s preferred masterplan for expansion: proposals for the future layout of the airport including the runway and other airport infrastructure such as terminals and road access. The masterplan will also reveal the airport’s growth in phases – from runway opening in 2026, to the end masterplan in approximately 2050. This incremental growth in infrastructure will align more closely with forecast passenger growth, and help airport charges remain close to 2016 levels – ultimately resulting in more affordable fares for passengers;
- Plans to operate the future airport: how the future three runway airport will be operated, including night flights, as well as how potential additional flights before the new runway opens could be operated on the existing two runways;
- Assessment of impacts of the airport’s growth: a preliminary assessment of the likely impact of expansion on the environment and local communities;
- Plans to manage the impacts of expansion: Heathrow will set out plans for mitigating the effects of expansion, including property compensation, a noise insulation policy, a community compensation Fund, and measures to mitigate against air pollution, carbon, and other environmental effects
Heathrow executive director for expansion, Emma Gilthorpe, said: “Heathrow’s expansion is a project of huge national and local significance, and it is critical to our country’s economic growth.
“An expanded hub airport will allow the country to access more of the world, create thousands of jobs locally and nationally and it will open up new trading routes. But we can’t deliver these plans alone.
“We urge everyone to have their say in this consultation, to shape our plans, and to help us deliver expansion in the fairest and most sustainable way.”
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