New Consultation Starts For Heathrow Expansion
On Thursday 18th June 2026, when all news was diverted to the election of Andy Burnham, the government quietly sneaked in its public consultation for what it claimed is Europe's biggest construction project ever - the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) consultation.
Protesters complained the short 10 week public consultation for Heathrow's future planning decisions -that runs until 1 September 2026 - is taking place while the public and MP's will be away on their summer holiday!
If Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, what can we expect?
He has previously voiced clear opposition to Heathrow expansion.
He has stated that a third runway would divert infrastructure investment (£33 billion) away from the north and concentrate resources in London.
If, unlike Theresa May, he doesn't flip-flop and change his viewpoint when in power, the risk to Heathrow expansion will undoubtedly increase.
All planes can now fly Point-To-Point eg. from Manchester Airport to China or USA... there is no need whatsoever for people or cargo to have to first fly from the North down to Heathrow, before flying to Europe, Asia, America, etc, and visa versa. Heathrow’s ancient model of a hub airport is obsolete!
Our MP @JohnMcDonnellMP tweeted: “The government has published its consultation document on the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a 3rd runway. The consultation ends on 1st September. I will be convening meetings for local residents over the next fortnight to discuss the issues involved and how we can respond.”
Cllr Steve Tuckwell - Leader of Hillingdon Council remains firmly opposed to the 3rdRunway and he issued the following statement :-
Heathrow Airport falls within Hillingdon Borough
Hayes Town News summarised Heathrow expansion plan succinctly, plus of course, the back pages of the national press, including the FT who have woken up to the fact that expansion would boost the UK economy by barely a tenth of Rachel Reeve/Heathrow’s forecast projection!
We want a better Heathrow, NOT a bigger Heathrow!
Ruth Cadbury MP for Brentford and Isleworth wrote:-
As a constituency MP I wanted to provide an update for local residents about the potential for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
The Government has confirmed its support for a third runway at Heathrow by launching a 10-week public consultation on a draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy statement (HENPS).
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said that expansion “has the potential to improve connectivity, strengthen resilience and support economic growth”.
However she went on to say that she has considered how the Government’s four tests for Heathrow should be applied...
1.) Economic Growth across the UK.
2.) Compatibility with the UK’s legally binding climate targets.
3.) Keeping within legal air quality limits.
4.) That noise is no worse than current levels, with reductions where possible, supported by effective mitigation.
The proposals need to be scrutinised for the likely impact of a third runway on noise levels locally including the North parts of Cranford, Heston, Osterley, Brentford and Chiswick.
The government has said that should the expansion go ahead, there will be “effective mitigation”. I will hold the Government to that commitment.
The potential for a third runway to bring more traffic congestion on the M4 and M25, on local roads and on the existing public transport network needs to be examined carefully.
I have long been concerned about the impact that expansion could have on our transport network. Heathrow at its present size needs new rail links to relieve these pressures, and these links will be even more necessary should the third runway be given the go ahead.
The announcement is not the final decision, and the draft HENPS is likely to be scrutinised in detail by the Transport Committee, which I chair, before a parliamentary decision is made.
In my capacity as Chair of that cross-party, collaborative Parliamentary committee, I have a duty to examine the views of Heathrow Airport and a range of organisations both supporting and opposing the third runway to assess the full range of likely national and local impacts or benefits of the scheme.
This forensic assessment will provide robust evidence for eventual recommendations to Government.
You can read the Governments statement below (including Labours 4 tests)
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-06-18/hcws125?
--oo00oo--
We've been informed that there is a Friends of the Earth petition to the Chancellor (Rachel Reeves?) to commit to no new airport expansion and scrap plans for approving a third runway at Heathrow airport :-
https://action.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/stop-aviation-expansion
and
Contrail Awareness suggested adding something like this to your response to HENPS, concentrating on unacceptable increases in contrails and the CO2 climate impact:-
https://www.contrail-awareness.com/Heathrow-Consultation-Response-Template