Heathrow consults on third runway

HEATHROW airport has pledged to compensate families booted out of their homes and ban flights for sixand-a-half hours overnight, if it wins its fight for a new runway.

Britain’s biggest airport, in London, wants to build a third runway and a sixth terminal amid estimates that London’s airports will hit full capacity within 20 years. But the £16bn plan involves compulsorily buying more than 750 homes.

With a 10-week public consultation on the expansion starting on January 17, it said: ‘Heathrow will not compromise on any of its commitments to the local communities as part of this consultation.’

As well as the pledges on night flights and compensation of 25pc above market value for any homes bought, Heathrow has promised to only release new capacity if strict air quality limits can be met.

Emma Gilthorpe, in charge of plans to grow, said: ‘Expanding Heathrow is pivotal to Britain’s future prosperity and it’s a chance to make the airport a better neighbour for our local communities.’

MPs are expected to vote on the expansion by the summer, before Heathrow can submit a planning application. It hopes to build a runway by 2025.