DON’T BELIEVE THE HEADLINES

On Monday 6 September, the Government announced that it would not review the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) on Heathrow expansion “at this time”, despite various requests from a range of individuals and organisations.

Whilst some media outlets opted for headlines such as “removal of climate change hurdle clears way for 3rd runway”, the reality is that this is simply not the case. Although the decision does not rule out a review at a future stage, when fresh policy in areas affecting Heathrow expansion become known, it is extremely frustrating that action has been decided against right now.

New areas of aviation policy such as Jet Zero emissions and Sustainable Aviation Fuels, both of which have consultations closing this month, could significantly impact the proposals for Heathrow Expansion laid out in the ANPS. The Government acknowledge this, particularly in relation to Jet Zero emissions. Here’s the full paragraph from the Department for Transport’s letter to those who requested an ANPS review:

“[The Secretary of State for Transport] considers that the question of whether or not to review the ANPS should be considered again after the Government’s Jet Zero Strategy (“JZS”) has been finalised following a consultation which was launched on 14 July 2021. This sets out proposed policies that will be needed for aviation to meet net zero emissions by 2050. These policies will influence the level of aviation emissions the sector can emit and the cost of flying in the future, both of which are relevant to considering whether any of the policy set out in the ANPS would have been materially different had these circumstances been anticipated at the time of designation. The timing of any re-consideration of the appropriateness of whether to review the ANPS after the JZS is finalised will need to have regard to the availability of long-term aviation demand forecasts at that stage.”

Additionally, new air quality targets are being finalised as part of the Environment Bill, currently being debated in the House of Lords. Whilst the Secretary of State acknowledges that this topic does not currently constitute grounds for a review, once the targets and legislation is in place it could. It is imperative that the Government adopts World Health Organisation standards on air quality at a minimum – we will be part of the wider environmental lobby calling to ensure that happens when the targets are finalised.

Campaigners and MPs gathered at Westminster to highlight the Jet Zero consultation and why without no expansion of Heathrow, it amount to little more than more hot air. Literally.

Despite this optimism, it is a shame that by not kick-starting a review now, the Government is delaying what will become inevitable at the planning stage – the next formal part of the process for Heathrow to obtain permission to expand. With climate laws strengthened significantly since the ANPS was voted on in Parliament back in June 2018, a third runway at Heathrow, which would add an estimated 7 megatonnes of carbon emissions per year by 2050, is even less likely to gain final approval.

Due to COVID losses, it is not expected that Heathrow will submit a planning application anytime soon. But if there is a review of the ANPS then they may not be able to, either while this process is underway or if any review were to find that it would no longer be possible for Heathrow to expand and meet various environmental obligations set out in law.

So, despite the headlines in various newspapers suggesting the opposite, residents have every reason to be optimistic that the unwanted third runway is less likely to happen than ever before.

Rob Barnstone

Campaign Coordinator, Stop Heathrow Expansion