Heathrow unveils expansion plans
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London’s busiest airport, Heathrow, unveiled its expansion proposals today at a media briefing held at Tate Modern.
The hub put forward three options to the Airports Commission for solving its capacity issue, all of which involved three runway alternatives with an option for fourth if needed.
The airport’s executives admitted to preferring two of its proposals, which will have a third runway built in the north west or south west, over a third less appealing option which would build a third runway in the north.
The first option would see a runway built on the site of Old Slade sewage works, Harmondsworth Moor, Harmondsworth and Longford. The 3,500 metre runway is 1,500 longer than failed 2003 proposal and would allow for mixed mode use. However the proposal would mean that 950 residential properties in Longford and Hardmondsworth would need to be demolished. The entire project would cost GBP17bn and take six years to complete. The area within ‘Heathrow’s footprint’ would experience 15% less noise in 2030, partly because of the new runway’s location to the west.
The second proposal would take longer to complete (with a higher cost) but would perform better in terms of noise and need less compulsory purchase of residential property. It would involve constructing a third runway over King George VI and Wraysbury reservoirs and a new terminal on the site of Stanwell Moor. Overall 850 homes would need to be demolished but because of the reservoir would pose an environmental and construction challenge. The price tag is a hefty GBP18bn but it would not be ready till 2029. Noise pollution would be around 20% less in 2030 with three runways than in 2011 with two.
The third and more controversial option is far cheaper than the other two but will come at a higher price in terms of compulsory purchases and noise impact. The runway, which would be built to the north would mean that 2,700 homes would need to be demolished in Sipson, Harlington and Cranford Cross. The runway would also be smaller than existing runways meaning the Airbus A380 could not use it. On top of this, the noise impact would only decrease by 10%; it would cost around GBP14bn.
Colin Matthews, Heathrow’s chief executive, said, “After half a century of vigorous debate but little action, it is clear the UK desperately needs a single hub airport with the capacity to provide the links to emerging economies which can boost UK jobs, GDP and trade. It is clear that the best solution for taxpayers, passengers and business is to build on the strength we already have at Heathrow. Today we are showing how that vision can be achieved whilst keeping the impact on local residents to an absolute minimum.”
The executives also stressed the benefits to a Heathrow expansion against the arguments offered by Boris Johnson and Gatwick airport. Heathrow expansion would protect 114,000 jobs and create thousands more and look to lessen the impact on those currently on the flight path.
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