It’s that time again – with Heathrow Airport unveiling what it calls a “shovel-ready” proposal for a third runway as well as the expansion of the Heathrow Airport Campus.
The grand vision for the “new” Heathrow – Image, Heathrow Airport
The blueprint submitted to the UK Government today includes:
- A north-western runway up to 3,500m – a design that already has Parliamentary support
- Increased capacity to serve up to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers
- A brand-new terminal ‘T5X’, expanding Terminal 2 and three new satellite terminals
All of this is to be privately financed.
The investment consists of three main elements: £21bn for the new runway and airfield infrastructure (up from £14bn in 2018 due to construction inflation), £12bn for new terminal and stand capacity – the brand new T5X – and £15bn for modernising the current airport through expanding Terminal 2 and ultimately closing Terminal 3.
The third runway £21bn – includes the investment required to obtain consent, procure the land, prepare the land, including M25 realignment and expand the airfield with the runway, taxiways and associated airside infrastructure. The previous figure of £14bn has risen due to construction inflation.
New terminal capacity £12bn, this includes the investment required to expand the airfield with aprons and stands connecting to the existing T5, construction of T5X and T5XN to support increased passengers, baggage systems, airside and landside infrastructure, car parks and connectivity enhancements. T5X would be a new second front door to the main T5 building, similar in size, with a large shared public transport interchange and public space between the two. T5XN would be a new satellite next to the new runway, connected by track transit
Modernising current infrastructure £15bn, this includes a major upgrade to Terminal 2, with the delivery of two satellite piers, enabled by the phased closure of Terminal 3 and redevelopment of the Central Terminal Area. This is planned irrespective of a third runway, but is included in the total DCO for practical reasons.
As you can see from the launch image, the spiral terminals of Terminal 3 would be swept away, replaced with “toast rack” designs.
A third runway and supporting infrastructure can be ready within a decade, and the full investment across all terminals would ta..ke place over the coming decades.
To support the new services, a new road tunnel, plans for two dedicated parkways and improvements to the country’s busiest bus and coach station will make it easier than ever before to reach the airport.
According to the airport, expanding Heathrow would add 0.43% to the UK’s GDP, with 60% of the benefit felt outside London and the South-East, and grow the UK’s most valuable port by 50%.
An expanded Heathrow would give passengers more choice – at least 30 new daily routes, extra domestic connections and a better selection of flight times to the most popular destinations.
Feedback from the Government will be required by September to stay on track for the Ministers’ ambitious timeline.
The full summary is here – it would make good bedtime reading.
In Quotes
Heathrow CEO 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. 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 in our supply chain across the country. We are uniquely placed to do this for the country; it is time to clear the way for take-off.”
Confederation of British Industry, British Chambers of Commerce, MakeUK, Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors
“The UK business community supports the expansion of Heathrow with a third runway — an investment in the nation’s future. The benefits are clear: for exporters, it opens up vital access to major and emerging markets; for visitors, it enhances global and domestic connectivity; and for businesses, it unlocks billions in private investment, strengthening supply chains, creating jobs, and driving skills across the country.”
Kenton Jarvis, CEO, easyJet
“Expansion at Heathrow will provide consumer and economic benefits and represents a unique opportunity for easyJet to operate from the airport at scale for the first time bring with it lower fares for consumers.”
Many challenges to go
Heathrow expects to submit a planning application in 2028. However, there are multiple challenges they will face.
Most recently, The Arora Group published a plan that would require a shorter runway, but not require the rerouting on the M25. And no doubt otherwise will want their say too.
There are also the local residents to the area (who have always been anti-expansion), London residents who will have to live with the noise and extra flights, along with the environmental impact, which is going to be big, no matter what, and whatever mitigations they try to put in place.
Heathrow has had a stop-start plan for expansion for years. And it’s gone normally from a plan to a stop, to another plan, to a stop, based on the Government of the day’s feelings and if the prime minister.
If they manage to deliver this by 2040…. I’ll be in some shock.
Given the past record, I’m not holding my breath.
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