We need to submit our response to this consultation by 1st September 2026.
Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement: consultation on proposed amendments -what it means for Stanwell Moor.
The government has launched a major public consultation on its updated plans for expanding Heathrow Airport. The Department for Transport has revised the old 2018 planning framework, renaming it the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS). This document sets out the legal guidelines and strict rules that any builder must follow if they want to get approval for a third runway. It is crucial to note that this consultation does not grant immediate planning permission or greenlight construction yet; instead, it sets the ground rules for how a future planning application will be judged. For those of us living in the immediate vicinity of the airport, these rules will shape our local environment, noise levels, and transport links for decades to come.
Key Points of the Proposal
- The Third Runway is Reconfirmed: The policy specifically backs the “Northwest Runway” scheme—a new runway of up to 3,500 meters. This would allow for at least 260,000 additional flights per year.
- A Fourth Runway is Ruled Out: To provide some long-term certainty, the draft text explicitly rules out any future fourth runway.
- “Critical Infrastructure” Status: The government plans to designate the expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure. This label gives the project massive weight and priority when it comes to final planning decisions.
- Economic Claims: Ministers claim the expansion will support over 60,000 new local jobs and bring up to £42 billion in economic benefits to the UK.
Key Concerns for Stanwell Moor
The government has introduced “four tests” that any expansion project must pass before being approved. For our community, these tests cover the issues that impact our daily lives the most:
- Noise Pollution: The government states that noise impacts must be limited so that they are no worse than 2024 levels, with reductions where possible. Any developer will have to show an aggressive noise-mitigation strategy.
- Air Quality: The expansion cannot cause any new breaches of legal air quality limits. The policy demands plans to mitigate the pollution caused by a busier airport.
- Surface Access (Traffic and Trains): With hundreds of thousands of extra passengers and staff travelling to the airport, our roads and trains could face intense pressure. The policy requires developers to prioritise public transport and minimize the impact on local road networks.
- Climate Change: The independent Climate Change Committee is being consulted to ensure that adding a third runway can actually fit within the UK’s legally binding Net Zero targets.
Next Steps: How to Have Your Say
The government says it wants local voices to help shape the final policy. Here is the timeline for what happens next:
- September 1, 2026 (11:59 PM): The public consultation closes. This is our community’s window to submit feedback on the draft rules and environmental protections.
- End of 2026: The Parliament’s Transport Committee will finish its official examination of the draft.
- Parliamentary Vote: The final version of the policy will be laid before Parliament for a vote in the House of Commons.
- 2029: The government is aiming to take a final, definitive planning decision on the actual Heathrow expansion project