Plans for a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport have been boosted this week, following the launch of a “swift and robust” review process by the UK government's Department for Transport (DFT).
On Wednesday (October 22), Transport Secretary Heide Alexander launched a long-awaited review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which will provide the framework for any future expansion of Heathrow to be considered.
Alexander noted that the previous ANPS, launched in 2018, took five years to complete. However, under the new timetable, the Labour government is aiming to publish the reviewed draft ANPS for consultation by summer 2026.
Launching the review in Parliament, the Transport Secretary said that a new ANPS is necessary due to new environmental and climate obligations that must be taken into account on planning applications.
The review of the ANPS will include four key tests that any proposed scheme for Heathrow expansion will have to meet, namely the impact on climate change, noise, air quality, and economic growth.
The Department added that it hopes that an accelerated ANPS will ensure that a decision on the third runway can be made by the end of this parliament, so that flights can take off from the new runway by 2035.
The government will also seek formal advice from the Climate Change Committee on any relevant amendments proposed to the ANPS to ensure consistency with the UK’s net-zero commitments.
Following an invitation for potential promoters to submit proposals to deliver a third runway earlier this year to inform the ANPS review, the Transport Secretary also confirmed that two schemes remain under active consideration.
Promoters Heathrow Airport Limited and the Arora Group now need to provide additional details on their plans, to clarify associated impacts for investors, affected communities, and businesses.
After consideration of this information, the government will announce the single scheme being taken forward to inform the remainder of the ANPS review by the end of November.
Any updates deemed necessary to the ANPS would then be consulted on next summer, when communities and stakeholders will also be able to have their say.
The ANPS announcement follows the government approvals of expansion plans for London Gatwick and London Luton airports, which were granted in September and April this year respectively.