Why Responding to the HENPS Consultation Matters
London has expanded outward for decades. Heathrow is now effectively an inner‑city airport, and the proposed third runway - plus new terminals - would be like building another Gatwick inside London.
The Government expects 61,000 new jobs by 2055, but this comes with enormous environmental, social, and economic costs that the HENPS barely acknowledges.
Key Issues You Can Raise in Your HENPS Response
1. Air Pollution
Heathrow has repeatedly breached legal pollution limits:
The 2010 Sipson runway was stopped due to deadly pollution levels.
The 2018 Court of Appeal blocked expansion for the same reason.
The Supreme Court later allowed Heathrow to be judged on outdated Kyoto-era pollution standards.
The current consultation focuses only on ground‑based pollution, ignoring emissions from aircraft - the largest contributor.
With 260,000 extra flights a year, Heathrow would fail strict WHO pollution limits immediately.
2. Noise
There is no such thing as a quiet jet engine!
The Government claims noise will be “limited” compared with 2024 levels — but Heathrow has no actual monitored 2024 noise data to compare against. Its figures are all "Computer modelled"!
Expansion means:
260,000 extra flights per year
750+ extra flights per day
40+ extra planes per hour
18 hours of continuous noise
Millions across London and the Thames Valley would be affected.
3. Regional Economic Impact
Billions more investment will flow into the South East - not the regions.
Heathrow’s own modelling bearly shows a 0.05% GDP increase neweconomics.org over 40 years, while regional airports lose passengers, freight, and jobs. . bmmagazine.co.uk
A simple alternative to heathrows 276,000‑acre land grab for the 3rdrunway, could instead be used for housing and apprenticeships, generating far more economic benefit for the country.
4. Climate
Aviation already contributes 6% of global warming — and Heathrow expansion could push UK aviation emissions to 25% of national CO₂ output.
SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is a short‑term, expensive stop‑gap.
Hydrogen and battery aircraft are unaffordable non-starters for airlines.
“We have to reduce flying – not increase it.”
5. Compensation & Accountability
Heathrow and Arora’s Heathrow‑West companies are being paid £124m to prepare expansion plans — yet no department exists to support or compensate affected communities!
The Government refuses to publish flight paths, timelines, or penalties if Heathrow fails:
public transport targets
carbon budgets
noise limits
If Heathrow breaches its obligations once it has bulldozed 8 villages, what happens?
The HENPS does not say.
What the HENPS Covers — and What It Doesn’t
✔️ The HENPS does ask for your views on:
need for expansion
the four tests
environmental mitigation
night flights
compensation
surface access
( how to manage 2 developers - HAL and Heathrow-West)
❌ The HENPS does not:
grant development consent
approve final design or phasing
reopen Heathrow as the only expansion site
apply to other UK airports
choose who will build the scheme
📅 Timeline: What Happens Next
- Now → Autumn 2026: Public responses collected https://www.heathrowexpansionwatch.org/
- Christmas 2026: Parliament scrutinises and votes on the HENPS
- 2027–2030: Developers submit DCO applications
- 2030: Government decides whether the runway proceeds
Until then: no spades in the ground.
How to Respond to the draft HENPS : Guides & Resources
Here are organisations offering detailed response templates:
- CISHA
- Campaign Against Climate Change
- Aviation NGOs Four Tests (.pdf)
Opposition articles and analysis:
- Friends of the Earth petition
- Overflown Bedford Park - Response Guide :
- Morning Star analysis - Reeves mis-sold Heathrow expansion to the cabinet, Labour MPs and the country
- Transport & Environment CO₂ report - Airports in Europe account for more emissions than Latin America, the Middle East and Africa combined.
- BBC Heathrow's 'critical' expansion blueprint released
Final Call to Action
Heathrow expansion is not inevitable. The Government has not approved it. Parliament has not voted on it. Developers have not submitted final plans.
But your response right now shapes the policy that decides everything that follows.
Send your objections to: HENPSconsultation@dft.gov.uk