Gatwick expansion backed over Heathrow third runway

In fact, the plan mention’s the mayor’s “strong objection” to Heathrow expansion plans on a number of occasions.

This is despite advice from the Planning Inspectorate that the London Plan “should be modified to include the new northwest runway scheme at Heathrow.”

Instead, the London Plan supports expansions at Gatwick as well as at Stansted, London City, Luton and Southend airports.

The London Plan was formally adopted last week and also includes provisions for the Bakerloo Line Extension, Crossrail 2 as well as southern and western rail links to Heathrow Airport.

More than four years in the making, the London Plan paves the way for a raft of infrastructure and housing developments in the capital.

The plan is designed to be a long-term planning document for construction and infrastructure developments in London.

As well as committing to transport upgrades, the plan also focuses on improving the capital’s air quality, making London a zero-carbon city by 2030, and providing 50% affordable homes in new developments.

On Heathrow expansion plans, the plan states: “The Mayor will […] strongly oppose any expansion of Heathrow Airport that would result in additional environmental harm or negative public health impacts.

“Air quality gains secured by the Mayor or noise reductions resulting from new technology must be used to improve public health, not to support expansion."

It adds: “The Mayor also believes that expansion at Gatwick could deliver significant benefits to London and the UK more quickly, at less cost, and with significantly fewer adverse environmental impacts.

“Stansted Airport will, in due course, be able to make better use of its single runway following the raising of its flight cap, alongside appropriate environmental mitigation.

“London City Airport is working to upgrade its passenger facilities and enhance operational efficiency in conjunction with the introduction of additional environmental mitigation measures and what amounts to a reduction of its maximum permitted number of movements.

“Luton and Southend airports are also undertaking substantial upgrades of their terminal facilities.”

Plans to turn Gatwick Airport’s emergency northern runway into a routinely used second runway were given a boost in January, with investors backing the proposals.

The runway is currently used as a taxiway and for emergencies – but under the plans, it could be operating short-haul flights by the end of the decade.

Rival bidders to expand Heathrow Airport now claim that the Third Runway proposal is now “dead”.

Heathrow Hub claims that its plan to extend one of the existing runways is now the only feasible option left to expand Heathrow Airport.

A spokesman for Heathrow Hub said: “Mr Jenrick’s approval of the new London Plan is very welcome and is another example of the Government effectively saying the 3rd Runway is dead.

“But Heathrow itself continues to persist with the fiction it will build it in order to get approval for higher passenger fees from the CAA, which it needs to prop up its precarious finances.

“The only proposal for expansion at Heathrow which works is our cheaper and simpler plan to extend the existing Northern Runway.

“Not only is it a fraction of the cost, it can be built in phases and would initially reduce emissions by reducing delays at the airport. It specifically meets the conditions in the London Plan.”

A Heathrow spokesperson confirmed that HAL's plans to expand the airport are still being pursued.

The spokesperson added: “The Supreme Court ruled that the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) is lawful. The ANPS remains national policy approved overwhelmingly by Parliament and provides the primary policy framework for a planning decision on a third runway at Heathrow.

"Expanding Heathrow is a multi-billion pound privately-funded project which will create tens of thousands of new jobs and enable the Government to deliver on its Global Britain and levelling-up ambitions.”

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