A car park proposed by Heathrow Airport on the edge of our village is highly controversial for our local community as we face significant disruptions, including “rat-running” traffic, increased nitrogen dioxide pollution, and longer local commute times. Despite government support as of early 2026, the plan remains highly contentious due to the lack of clear mitigation strategies for the anticipated surge in noise, litter, and unauthorised taxi parking that threatens the safety and value of the Stanwell Moor community. We will look out for the Summer 2026 Draft Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which will provide the first high-resolution maps showing the final confirmed path for the new A3044.
The proposed “Southern Parkway” car park is a major component of the Heathrow expansion project. Based on current 2026 planning documents and recent government endorsements, the intended location and the details of the facility is by Stanwell and Stanwell Moor. It is part of the 3rd runway expansion and move towards what the airport call a “hub-and-spoke” transit model within the airport.
What is proposed
The new car park could take 16,000 to 22,000 cars. This would make it one of the largest in the world). It will be a huge multi-storey complex To accommodate the car park and the increased traffic it may mean that parts of the A3044 are diverted, and the Southern Perimeter Road widened. The traffic will not be just cars but also shuttle buses. It is also planned to double the cargo capacity to the south – more trucks, more noise, more pollution,
Why such a large car park
Heathrow want to replace dozens of smaller, disparate car parks scattered around the airport’s southern boundary with what they call a consolidated “hub”.
Where will the Planned Car Park Be situated
The plan is to situate the new southern car park in the Stanwell and Stanwell Moor area, on land that currently borders the Southern Perimeter Road. IThis means it would be just east of the M25 (between Junctions 13 and 14), and south of Terminal 5.
Not on our Moor
Because our village is located almost entirely within the “elbow” of the M25 and the airport’s southern boundary, it faces a unique set of pressures.The proposal directly impacts our village in the following ways:
- Traffic “Rat-Running”: Increased vehicle traffic through village roads to reach the M25 and the proposed car park
- Air & Noise Pollution: The concentration of thousands of cars in or by our village will lead to intolerable increases in road level noise meters from our village boundary and fuel pollution (nitrogen dioxide) in what is supposed to be an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
- Risk of a massive increase in unwanted parking and taxis.
- Delays to journey time for villagers in and out of the village to Slough or the M4.
- Blight from the traffic and noise affecting the safety of our community and value of our homes.
Current Status
As of early 2026, Heathrow has approved new investment to finalise the Development Consent Order (DCO) application. While the government expressed support for the expansion in late 2025, the exact final design of the car park is subject to the upcoming review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) scheduled for Summer 2026.
The Plan
| Phase | Estimated Period | Activity |
| Pre-Planning & Design | 2026 – 2027 | Detailed surveys and finalisation of the A3044’s exact path around the new southern airport boundary. |
| DCO Submission | 2027 – 2028 | Formal submission of the Development Consent Order (DCO) which includes the legal powers to divert the highway. |
| Planning Approval | 2029 | Expected date for the Secretary of State to grant the DCO, allowing construction to begin. |
| Construction Start | 2030 | Enabling works for the Southern Parkway and the A3044 realignment are expected to be among the first “off-airfield” tasks. |
| Road Completion | ~2032 | The new A3044 route must be operational before the primary construction of the new runway begins in earnest. |
More questions than answers
The plan raises many questions of Heathrow Airport:
- Why is such a huge car park being placed so close to our village? Where is the plan that considered other locations?
- Where are the plans to reduce the road noise pollution in the village?
- Where are the plans to reduce the the fuel pollution in the village?
- Where are the plans to protect the village from unwanted cars and taxis protecting the villagers right to park themselves?
- Where are the safety measures to protect the village from litter, dumping and community safety?