Heathrow’s proposals, which have been presented to the Davies Commission
examining hub capacity in the South East, could eventually see a fourth
runway being added to the airport.
Heathrow, which is now owned by investors from Spain, Singapore, the United
States, Canada and Qatar, says its plans are the cheaper than any hub option
put forward by its rivals and Boris Johnson, the London mayor, who has
called for a four runway airport either at Stansted or on the Thames
estuary.
Gatwick, meanwhile, is pushing for a second runway, arguing London would be
best served by a constellation of competing airports.
Heathrow’s plans for a third runway were backed by the last Labour Government
but scrapped when the Coalition took office in 2010.
These proposals are, the airport said, radically different from those which
were approved by Labour.
It says the extra capacity, which would raise the number of flights at the
airport from the current 480,000 a year to 740,000, could be delivered
between 2025-9.
But the plans are certain to anger environmental and residents groups who
successfully fought off the last expansion plans.
One option would be to place the third runway to the north of the existing
airport. It is seen as the cheapest alternative but would have the greatest
impact on local residents and inflict more noise on the community than the
two others.
Building a runway to the north west would cause less disruption to residents
and noise damage, but would take longer to build and cost more.
The third option, building a runway to the south west is the most complex and
expensive, but has the least impact.
Although the plans raise the possibility of building a fourth runway in the
future, Heathrow suggests it may not be necessary.
Crossrail - the line slicing across London from Essex, a rail route from the
west and the proposed high speed rail link
from London to Birmingham and the
north would all enhance public transport access to the airport.
“After half a century of vigorous debate but little action, it is clear the UK
desperately needs a single hub airport with the capacity to provide the
links to emerging economies which can boost UK jobs, GDP and trade,” said
Colin Matthews, Heathrow’s chief executive.
“It is clear that the best solution for taxpayers, passengers and business is
to build on the strength we already have at Heathrow. Today we are showing
how that vision can be achieved whilst keeping the impact on local residents
to an absolute minimum.”
Already opponents gave Heathrow a taste of the opposition it is likely to face
as it pushes the case for expansion.
“We will fight any proposal for a new runway tooth and nail. We owe it to
future generations to stop a third runway,” said John Stewart of the anti
Heathrow expansion group, HACAN.
“While we are encouraged by Heathrow’s plans to try to reduce noise, the
additional runway will put a 200,000 extra planes a year in the skies over
London and the Home Counties and will negate these efforts”.
Business leaders backed Heathrow’s plans. "Expanding Heathrow is
the best way to solve Britain's airport capacity conundrum. It is quicker
and cheaper than the other options, and far easier to get to for almost all
passengers,” said Corin Taylor, Senior Economic Adviser at the Institute of
Directors.
With quieter planes and steeper descents, it can be done in a sensitive way.
Britain will miss out on the trade we need with high growth parts of the
world unless we urgently expand our hub capacity."
Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce,
offered his support.
“Businesses across Britain need the best possible air links if they are to
deliver growth, jobs and investment,” he said.
“For that reason, we support the expansion of our global hub airport at
Heathrow, as well as new runways at other airports in the South East, such
as
Gatwick and Stansted.
“All three airports have private-sector investors who stand ready to invest in
increased capacity, which is absolutely critical at a time of public-sector
financial constraint.” But Boris Johnson, London's mayor, dismissed the proposals.
"There are absolutely no circumstances in which the expansion of Heathrow
will be acceptable to London or of long term benefit to the country.
''Three quarters of a million people are already seriously affected by
aircraft noise in their homes, and we cannot allow private profit to dictate
a worsening of that situation.
''There will be more pigs flying than aircraft if we are to believe the claim
that three runways at Heathrow will make less noise than two.''
