Heathrow airport has unveiled ambitious plans to build a third runway for £21 billion within the next decade. The west London hub has submitted detailed proposals to the Government for a new full-length runway that would dramatically increase the airport's capacity.
The airport is seeking permission to construct a 3,500-metre runway to the north-west of its existing location. However, Heathrow has indicated it remains open to considering a shorter alternative runway design.
Massive capacity increase planned
The new runway would enable an additional 276,000 flights per year, boosting Heathrow's total from 480,000 today to 756,000 annually. The ambitious project would require moving the M25 motorway into a tunnel beneath the new runway.
Heathrow also wants to create terminal capacity for 150 million annual passengers, up from 84 million currently. This would involve building new terminal complexes named T5XW and T5XN, extending Terminal 2, and demolishing Terminal 3 and the old Terminal 1.
£49bn total project cost
The airport said its runway and airfield plan would be privately funded at a cost of £21 billion. Heathrow attributed the increase from its 2018 estimate of £14 billion to "construction inflation".
The total plan, including terminals and supporting infrastructure, would cost an estimated £49 billion. Airlines have expressed concern that Heathrow will increase passenger charges to fund the project.
Government backing emerges
Heathrow believes it can meet the Government's ambition of securing planning consent by 2029 with the new runway operational within a decade. Chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: "It has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow."
"We are effectively operating at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity," Woldbye added. "With a green light from Government and the correct policy support underpinned by a fit-for-purpose, regulatory model, we are ready to mobilise and start investing this year."
Airlines welcome expansion opportunity
EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said Heathrow expansion "represents a unique opportunity for easyJet to operate from the airport at scale for the first time and bring with it lower fares for consumers". The airline carries the most passengers on flights from UK airports but does not currently serve Heathrow.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Labour), who backed a third runway in a speech on growth in January, said: "We are one step closer to expanding our biggest airport - boosting investment in Britain, increasing trade for businesses, and creating up to 100,000 jobs."
Opposition voices concerns
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said he remains opposed to a third runway "because of the severe impact it will have in terms of noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets". He warned that City Hall will "carefully scrutinise" the proposals.
Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said if Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) wants to be "seen as a climate leader" then backing Heathrow expansion is "the wrong move". He added: "A third runway raises serious, unanswered questions about how it fits with the UK's climate commitments."
Rival plan emerges
On Thursday, hotel tycoon Surinder Arora published a rival Heathrow expansion plan involving a shorter runway to avoid diverting the M25 motorway. The billionaire's Arora Group said a 2,800-metre runway would result in "reduced risk" and avoid "spiralling cost".
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (Labour) described the expansion proposals as "a significant step towards unlocking growth, creating jobs, and delivering vital national infrastructure". She will consider the plans over the summer before beginning a review of the Airports National Policy Statement later this year.
Conservative shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said his party welcomed the investment in UK infrastructure but insisted it must remain privately funded. He said: "This is a private venture, and it must remain that way. There can be no backup blank cheque from taxpayers."
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
