Heathrow third runway likely to affect health of millions nearby, official report warns | Heathrow third runway
Construction of a third runway at Heathrow could have significant adverse impacts on the health and wellbeing of around 3 million people living nearby, an official report has said, as the government launches the next phase of its rapid airport expansion plan.
Expanding London’s central airport could have “major adverse” impacts on the health of much of the local population, an analysis for the Department for Transport has found.
The report prepared by Aecom consultants stated that the construction and operation of the third runway would not only worsen noise and air quality, but could also harm access to housing, education, healthcare, open space and transport. He added that Heathrow’s expansion would impact water quality, weaken community identity and cohesion, deteriorate landscapes and cityscapes, and impact climate change mitigation and adaptation.
An impact analysis of the new policy said the construction of a third runway was likely to be beneficial in terms of jobs, income, education, skills and training, but concluded: “Adverse impacts are assessed to be likely in terms of other determinants, including environmental and social considerations, many of which have the potential to be significant.”
While the report is expected to help shape measures to mitigate the impact on residents, it is stated that the impacts cannot be fully compensated. The DfT has been approached for comment.
The statement comes as supporting documentation comes after the government announced another milestone in enlargement, the expedited publication for consultation of a draft national policy statement supporting the third runway.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Today’s consultation is a positive step towards realizing the benefits of a third runway, giving businesses, communities and the public the chance to help shape this important project at one of the world’s most successful hub airports.
“We are determined to act quickly and responsibly to create a framework for future expansion at Heathrow that will meet the needs of local people and the country on key issues such as noise, air quality, climate change and economic growth.”
MPs will now decide whether to approve the policy, known as the Heathrow Expansion national policy statement, instead covering airports across the country.
The previous policy statement was voted down by the Conservatives after the Airports Commission decided just one runway could be built in south-east England without breaching climate commitments. Labor has since approved expansion at London’s Stansted, Luton and Gatwick airports.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed the third podium but is expected to step down if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election and replaces Keir Starmer.
He said: “Growth is this government’s top priority and we are backing builders to get Britain moving. An expanded Heathrow will support more than 60,000 good local jobs and benefit the UK up to £42bn, strengthening vital links and improving connectivity across the country.”
Speaking at a conference in London, Reeves said: “Someone had to fire the bullet… We’ve made more progress on Heathrow in the last 18 months than the last government made in 14 years. And I’m determined there will be shovels in the ground until the next election.”
Heathrow is trying to build a 3,500-metre runway, which would require relocating the M25 motorway and the compulsory purchase of around 800 homes. The plan, estimated to cost £33 billion, will allow the airport to operate up to 756,000 flights with up to 150 million passengers each year.
Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s chief executive, said the consultation on the third runway plan represented “something the UK has often struggled with in recent years: progress”.
He added: “Our plan is privately funded by some of the biggest investors in the world, widely supported by businesses, unions and communities across the country, and after years of review it is ready to be implemented. We will now focus on obtaining planning permission and delivering this vital project.”
Paul McGuinness, chairman of the No. 3 Runway Coalition, said the expansion plans were “heading towards farce” and there would be “a decade of devastation” as houses and land were bulldozed around the airport before any runways were built.
He said airlines would be forced to pay increasingly higher fares and prices could be higher, adding: “No wonder the airline boss is calling it HS2 again. It seems extraordinary that this government seems determined to repeat these mistakes.”
Celeste Hick, policy manager at campaign group Aviation Environmental Federation, said the government had rushed the policy with little meaningful consultation with the people who would pay the price, namely “the communities living beneath the flight paths and those whose homes will be demolished or rendered uninhabitable”.
