What next for Heathrow’s expansion?
Looking at what the decision means for the future
A THIRD runway at Heathrow Airport has been backed by Prime Minister Theresa May and the cabinet, but what happens now?
As the £16 billion plan to increase flights to 700,000 a year by 2030 comes to the forefront, residents and businesses alike are eager to know what steps will be taken next.
What action will campaigners, residents, Heathrow Airport and big businesses take now?
From start to finish, the next process is expect to take around four years, the airport has said.
In 2018 a Government led consultation for the public is expected take place, showing the draft National Policy Statement (NPS).
The consultation will be carried out independently from Heathrow.
Once this has been handed in, the NPS will lay out a planning policy for airport expansion and set out the policy tests that the project must meet. MPs will vote on it as late as Spring 2018.
In 2019 an application for development consent will be submitted by Heathrow. A plan to reduce levels of air pollution will be published in due course as well, according to Heathrow Airport.
According to the law, the airport will also have to hold two “extensive consultations” before any applications are submitted.
Who is compensation London? Firstly, each house will be individually valued to determine its “unblighted” value at the time of sale, this will be the value the property would have had if a third runway at Heathrow had not been proposed.
Next, they will be divided into either of the two areas which have been mapped out as part of compensation schemes from the airport .
In the map pictured right, the purple marked area is the “improved” compensation scheme.
Those living in the area will have the choice to either remain in their home or sell their home at 25% above market value once the new runway has been constructed.
The red/pink area is a compulsory purchase boundary and homes within this will be forced to sell their homes to make way for concrete.
Their homes will be bought for 25% above market value compensation plus legal fees, plus stamp duty costs will be covered.
However, homeowners who have bought their home since December 2013 will not be eligible for the offer.
Heathrow calculated approximately 3,750 homeowners’ properties would be eligible for compensation under the revised scheme.
What are campaigners and residents planning on doing next? Harmondsworth residents who gathered at The Five Bells in the village told entitled to in west said they will “not give up the fight”.
The area has been earmarked for demolition to make way for the third runway.
Backing the residents were Friends of the Earth and pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said: “Heathrow expansion is grim news for people already struggling to cope with poor air quality.
“A new runway will cause more air pollution in surrounding locations – and shockingly this report admits it could even make it worse in areas that already exceed EU legal limits. The government’s argument that it’s acceptable to worsen air quality in areas already blighted by illegal air pollution – because other parts of the capital are even worse – is preposterous.”
What will big businesses do next? Many businesses are urging the government to move forwards as swiftly as possible, including chairman of business group London First, John Allan, who said: “The most important thing is to get on with it.”
Andrew Dakers, chief executive of West London Business, added: “This is a milestone announcement for west London’s economy and the wider UK for which we have waited a long time. The expansion will unlock significant investment and sends a clear signal as we prepare for Brexit that west London, the UK’s second largest economic powerhouse, remains open for business.” TJG1ST