Plans for third runway expansion at London’s Heathrow Airport revealed
- Terminal buildings and car parks to be in built in phases by 2050, which opponents say will mean demolished homes and disruption for locals
The scale of the disruption from Heathrow airport’s expansion project has been revealed with the publication of detailed plans to lower the M25 for the third runway to cross, divert rivers, replace utilities and relocate enormous car parks.
A 12-week public consultation opened on Tuesday at 8am, with campaigners warning of the severe impact for years to come of more than 700 extra planes in the sky after 2026, when the runway is due to open.
Heathrow said expansion should “not come at any cost” and has outlined plans for low-emission zones and congestion charges to stem local air pollution. It plans to expand in phases up to 2050 with new terminal buildings added after the runway as passenger numbers grow to keep airport charges and fares down after airlines complained about the projected cost.
Plans to mitigate the effects of expansion include property compensation, noise insulation funding and a six-and-a-half-hour ban on scheduled night flights.
Emma Gilthorpe, executive director of the airport’s expansion unit, urged local people to make their views heard.