Heathrow expansion policy

The government has launched a public consulation on a new Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS). This follows a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) .

The draft HENPS provides the planning policy framework against which any future application for expansion at Heathrow Airport would be considered. It takes acount of application of the government’s four tests for Heathrow expansion:

• on economic growth: expansion must deliver a credible and meaningful contribution to UK-wide economic growth,
• on carbon: the scheme must be compatible with the UK’s legally binding climate targets, including carbon budgets and net zero
• on air quality: expansion must not cause new breaches of legal air quality limits, taking account of appropriate mitigation
• on noise: impacts must be limited so that noise is no worse than current levels (2024 baseline), with reductions where possible, supported by effective mitigation

The government considers that the development covered by the Heathrow Expansion NPS is critical to national growth and therefore plans to designate expansion at Heathrow as Critical National Growth Infrastructure (CNGI). This will be an important additional factor in the planning balance. On announcing the consultation Transport Minister Heidi Alexander has also written to the Environmental Audit Committee offering to discuss the draft HENPS.

The consultation is open until September 1st. 

Consultation launched on draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement - GOV.UK

Alongside the draft HENPS, the government also published an updated Appraisal of Sustainability, Habitats Regulations Assessment and other supporting documents.