Airspace consultation marks new milestone in Heathrow’s £14bn expansion plan

Heathrow Airport is calling on locals to have their say on the future of its airspace.

Launched today (January 8), the Airspace and Future Operations consultation will ask communities for help shaping plans for the airport’s existing runways and proposed third airstrip.

The consultation will look at the local factors Heathrow needs to consider in different geographic areas when designing flight paths. It will also examine ways of managing noise and minimising impact through runway and airspace alternation, once all three are operational.

Heathrow’s Airspace and Future Operations consultation will run for eight weeks and span more than 30 events across the local boroughs surrounding the airport.

It is the latest milestone in Heathrow’s £14bn expansion plan.

The development was given the greenlight in Parliament last summer, clearing the way for Heathrow to submit an application for development consent.

A previous consultation, conducted this time last year, collected views on how the airport should deliver the expansion while keeping to promises made to locals and meeting strict environmental tests.

Heathrow’s executive director for expansion, Emma Gilthorpe, has urged locals to get involved and offer their take on the development.

Ms Gilthorpe said: “Heathrow’s aim is to design a sustainable, fair and more efficient future airport while connecting the UK to global growth.

“It is crucial that our plans maximise the benefits of expansion across the country, including for the communities closest to us—and working in partnership with our neighbours is just one way of ensuring they do so.”

She added: “We are committed to delivering expansion responsibly, and we encourage everyone to have their say and take part.”

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