The UK government has launched a public consultation on the framework for future decisions on Heathrow’s third runway.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander on Thursday (18 June) announced the public consultation after the government completed its review of the framework, which has since been renamed the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS).
The move has been welcomed by London Heathrow Airport as well as campaign group Heathrow Reimagined, which represents the Heathrow Airline Operators’ Committee, Arora Group, IAG and Virgin Atlantic.
In a statement, Alexander said the consultation marks “a positive step towards realising the benefits of a third runway, by giving businesses, communities, and the public the chance to help shape this key project at one of the world’s most successful hub airports.”
She added: “We are determined to move quickly and responsibly to set a framework for future expansion at Heathrow that will meet the needs of local people and the country on the key issues of noise, air quality, climate change and economic growth.” She clarified, however, that the HENPS does not grant development consent, nor does it approve any specific expansion scheme.
The announcement comes days after the Department for Transport (DfT) published a health impact analysis for the HENPS. The analysis, conducted by construction engineering firm AECOM on behalf of the DfT, found that adding a third runway at Heathrow could have “major adverse” impacts on the health of the local population.
This includes potentially poorer noise, air and water quality, as well as negative impacts on housing, open space, transport and access to healthcare and education.
While beneficial effects are expected from employment and training opportunities linked to both the construction and operation of a third runway, the report concluded that “adverse effects are considered likely with regard to the other determinants which cover environmental and social considerations, and many of these have potential to be significant.”
According to Alexander, expansion at Heathrow would support more than 60,000 local jobs, improve connectivity across the UK, and strengthen international passenger and freight links.
The consultation on the HENPS will run for over 10 weeks, closing on 1 September 2026.
Alongside this, the UK government on Thursday also announced a review of its Jet Zero Strategy to decarbonise aviation by 2050, with an update expected in “early 2027”.
This review will “consider the latest evidence on aviation decarbonisation and assess progress in delivering existing commitments”, according to Alexander.