Another runway and new terminal for Heathrow?

With Terminal 5 opening in March, there is the possibility that a fourth runway and seventh terminal may be built at Heathrow in the future.

Plans to build a new third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow by 2020 have now gone to public consultation, with the government giving its backing for economic reasons.

Schiphol airport in Amsterdam already has five runways, while Paris Charles de Gaulle has four, and the government and airport operator BAA are keen that Heathrow doesn’t lose more traffic to airports in Europe.

Appearing at the London Assembly, BAA chief executive Stephen Nelson would not deny that BAA may want to add another new runway and airport terminal at Heathrow in the future.

Nelson was questioned about whether there could be a fourth runway and seventh terminal and stated: “It would be inappropriate for me to speculate on whether there would be a further case for expansion beyond 2030”.

Building a third runway at Heathrow would threaten homes in the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth. If a fourth runway were built it could mean destroying more homes near Heathrow in the villages of Bedfont and Stanwell.

A new booklet called ‘A fair test for Heathrow?’ is being published this week by an alliance of 12 local authorities around Heathrow. The 12 page booklet aims to set out in plain language details about the planned expansion at Heathrow in order to enable local people to respond to the Department for Transport consultation.

“Why can’t they [the government] ask three simple questions: Do you want a third runway – yes or no? Do you want an increased number of flights – yes or no? Do you want more night flights – yes or no?,” asks Councillor Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and the environment at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Written by: Nick Purdom