Consultation on revised national airport strategy launched

Transport secretary Chris Grayling has launched a consultation on the revised draft Airports National Policy Statement and government response to the airspace consultation.

Grayling said the government was “on track” to publish final proposals for expansion at Heathrow in the first half of 2018 for a vote in Parliament.

The public has until 19 December to consider and respond to new evidence in the revised draft Airports National Policy Statement, including long-term aviation forecasts and the new government National air quality plan.

Once MPs approve the final document, it will set the planning policy framework, which the airport needs in order to bring forward a planning application for the new north-west runway.

An expanded Heathrow Airport would be more accessible to the rest of the country thanks to HS2, Crossrail and at least six more domestic flight routes.

Key benefits of a new Heathrow runway are expected to be:

• a £74bn benefit to passengers and the wider UK economy over 60 years
• tens of thousands of additional local jobs by 2030
• an additional 260,000 flights a year, with an extra 16m long-haul seats for passengers travelling from UK airports in 2040
• reduced fares, fewer delays and more daily destinations for passengers

“Airport expansion is one of the most important type of infrastructure project for the UK – both in boosting our economy and jobs and promoting us on the world stage,” said Grayling. “Leaving the EU is a new chapter for Britain and provides us with a great opportunity to forge a new role in the world. We are determined to seize that opportunity and having the right infrastructure in place will allow us to build a more global Britain.

“The case for expanding Heathrow is as strong as ever and we want to hear your views on it. This is an important consultation and I encourage everybody to get involved across the UK.”

The Transport Secretary confirmed that the government’s preferred scheme for adding new runway capacity in the south-east was through a new north-west runway at Heathrow Airport. He said this preference was reached in the interests of the whole of the UK and would make sure Britain has the connections it needs to thrive in the global market, sending a clear signal that Britain is open for business.

Heathrow is now the UK’s biggest freight port by value and a new runway would provide a post-Brexit boost for exports. Heathrow’s expansion would open up new links between the UK and markets around the world. It would connect UK goods and services to global customers and make the UK a more attractive location for inward investment.

The revised draft Airports National Policy Statement sets the planning policy framework which an applicant would have to comply with in order to get development consent for building a new north-west runway, including:

• delivering at least 6 more domestic routes across the UK by 2030
• providing a world-class package of support for communities affected, including noise insulation for homes and schools
• setting legally binding noise targets, periods of predictable respite and a ban of 6 and a half hours on scheduled night flights
• paying home owners 25% above market value rate plus costs for the compulsory purchase of their homes if needed to make way for the new runway

“We are also building on Heathrow’s pledges on compensation to put forward a world-class package worth up to £2.6bn,” said Grayling. “This will include fully noise insulating homes, schools and community building most affected by noise and a Community Compensation Fund which could raise up to £50m per year. Planning consent will only be granted if the new runway can be delivered in accordance with our air quality and climate change obligations.”

The transport secretary said he also made airport noise for communities a top priority and will now have the power to review any changes to flight paths where they are of national significance. He has launched the Independent Commission for Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) to give communities confidence that any proposed airspace changes appropriately consider the impact of aviation noise.

Grayling concluded: “The measures will also enable greater use of new technology to manage airspace more effectively – helping tackle delays, cut emissions and reduce the need for stacking above our busiest airports.”