BAA is to imminently submit plans to Hounslow Council, responsible for planning in the central area, for the redevelopment of Terminal 2, and with it Terminal 1, into what it calls ”Heathrow East.” The airport company is keen to point out that the scheme is not an expansion but a major remodelling of existing facilities. They say that the proposed new building will considerably improve facilities for staff (most of whom live locally), reduce the environmental impact by 40%, and help traffic flow. The positive impact on passengers will be enormous ” transforming one of the world”s least popular airport buildings into a 21st century trend-setter.
For the airlines, and in particular Star Alliance, the main tenant of the new structure, there will be considerable savings on aircraft movements (and associated emissions) and in the efficiency of the operation.
BAA says that if all goes well (ie no full planning enquiry required) Heathrow East can be up and running by the London Olympics. In developments already announced T2 will see its resident airlines move to T1 and T3 during 2008, T2 would be knocked down (cheers), and the whole area redeveloped. In terms of planning approval BAA see no difficulties in what is essentially the rebuilding of a brown field site, but this does not apply to T6 for which a long protracted debate is expected to rage.