Heathrow Airport expansion
Increasing airport capacity in the south-east of England.
Designated Airports National Policy Statement
The designated Airports National Policy Statement sets out:
- the need for additional airport capacity in the south-east of England
- why government believes that need is best met by a north-west runway at Heathrow Airport
- the specific requirements that an applicant for a new north-west runway would need to meet to gain development consent
On 5 June 2018 the proposed Airports National Policy Statement was laid before Parliament. On 25 June 2018, the House of Commons held a debate and vote on the proposed Airports National Policy Statement. On 26 June 2018, following approval of the statement by the House of Commons, the Secretary of State formally designated it as a national policy statement under section 5(1) of the Planning Act 2008.
Alongside the designated Airports National Policy Statement, the government has published a Post adoption statement and a Relationship framework document. This sets out how it will work with Heathrow Airport Limited to deliver the new runway.
The next stage of the process will see the scheme’s developers bring forward detailed proposals for planning consent. This will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
Why we chose a north-west runway at Heathrow
The government’s preferred scheme for meeting the need for additional airport capacity in the south-east of England is a new north-west runway at Heathrow Airport.
Airports National Policy Statement on a proposed a new runway at Heathrow
Listening to views and Parliamentary scrutiny
From 2 February to 25 May 2017 the government ran a consultation asking for views on the need for increased airport capacity and on the draft Airports National Policy Statement.
Between 24 October and 19 December 2017 a further period of consultation was conducted on a revised draft to take into account new evidence that wasn’t available during the original consultation.
The government has published a response to both these consultations.
Further analysis of the revised draft Airports National Policy Statement was also carried out through a Transport Committee inquiry. Overall, they concluded that the government was right to pursue the option of the new north –west runway at Heathrow. The government has published a response to the Transport Committee inquiry.
After taking into account the consultation responses and the report and recommendations of the Transport Committee, the government remains of the view that new runway capacity is needed in the south-east and that the Heathrow north-west runway scheme is the best option for delivering it.
Announcements
Between 11 and 22 March 2019 the government was in the High Court to defend against legal challenges in a judicial review process.
On 1 May 2019 the High Court ruled in favour of the government on all grounds. Full court transcripts are available from each day of the hearing.
Appraisal of sustainability and supporting documents
An appraisal of the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the policy set out in the proposed Airports National Policy Statement and options recommended for mitigating potential impacts.
Social research
Updates to this page
Published 25 October 2016Last updated 6 September 2021 + show all updates
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Added the decision on requests to review the Airports National Policy Statement.
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Added Community Compensation Fund: social and behavioural research.
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Added written ministerial statement on High Court's judgements in the judicial review of the Airports National Policy Statement.
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Designation of the Airports National Policy Statement.
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Proposed Airports National Policy Statement.
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Consultation on the revised draft Airports National Policy Statement.
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Update on draft Airports National Policy Statement process.
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Update on progress on the Airports National Policy Statement.
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Draft Airports National Policy Statement update.
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Information boards from the consultation information events.
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Consultation on the draft Airports National Policy Statement.
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First published.