By rosebell
Including diverting the M25 motorway and building a new road tunnel under the airport, the government choosed Heathrow Airport Ltd’s plan for a third runway.
As the most credible and deliverable option, this proposal will now shape the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), the framework in which the planning decision on expansion at the airport will be made, Transport secretary Heidi Alexander announced.
Additionally, two other proposals ,another by Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) and one from Arora Group/Heathrow West Ltd ,were considered.
According to the Department for Transport’s statement:”After requesting further information last month from the remaining two promoters, the government has assessed that HAL’s proposal offers the most deliverable option and provides the greatest likelihood of meeting the government’s ambition for a decision on a development consent application within this parliament.”
Considering that any amendments to the ANPS is going to be subject to consultation and parliamentary scrutiny next year, the government’s selection of the scheme is not a final decision on a third runway scheme or design, whereas exact details such as the length of the third runway, layout, and associated infrastructure implications is due to be continue to be considered throughout the remainder of the ANPS review.
The review will ease a planning decision that is scheduled to be made by 2029 and for the new runway to be operational by 2035.
While a third runway has been criticised by environment groups, Alexander said the government had been clear that expansion plans must meet the UK’s legally binding climate obligations while delivering economic growth and meeting air quality and noise obligations.
