Overview
- The Department for Transport published the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement on Thursday, launching a 10‑week public consultation and formally designating the project as critical national growth infrastructure.
- The draft requires proposals to meet four statutory tests covering UK‑wide economic benefit, compatibility with legally binding climate targets, no new breaches of air quality limits, and noise no worse than 2024 levels.
- Ministers kept two rival schemes in play by allowing phased delivery and competitive bids, preserving Heathrow Airport Limited’s 3,500m plan that would reroute the M25 and the Arora/Heathrow West staged 2,800m‑then‑3,500m option.
- A government‑commissioned Health Impact Assessment by Aecom warned of likely ‘major adverse’ health effects for populations closest to the airport, possibly affecting up to three million people, while the draft mandates mitigation such as habitat corridors, home insulation and a £750m community fund.
- Next steps are consultation responses, detailed planning applications under the HENPS framework and a targeted final planning decision toward 2029 with ministers aiming to start construction in this Parliament and complete the runway by 2035, a timetable that faces strong opposition from the mayor and environmental groups and backing from business and unions.