High Court decision Allows Judicial review of the Airport's National Policy Statement

4th October 2018

The legal battle over the government's decision to approve the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport will proceed, after the High Court granted permission for five legal challenges against expanding the airport to proceed to full hearings.

Justice Holgate confirmed the cases lodged by five different parties - including environmental campaigners and a group of Councils around the airport  will be heard over 10 days in March 2019.

Critics argue Heathrow expansion is incompatible with the UK's long-term climate targets and is incompatible with statutory carbon budgets, in addition to leading to increased local noise and air pollution upon a growing population.

Proponents of Heathrow Airport expansion, however, argue the project is necessary for boosting jobs and growth, and that improvements in aviation technology will make the new runway compatible with long term carbon and air quality targets.

Many legal challenge supporters contend that immensely increased activity related to 54% more flights will inevitably escalate surface transport congestion, exacerbate the existing housing crisis and escalate the costs of scarce business premises to totally uneconomic and unsustainable levels.

The five parties challenging the UK government's decision this summer to grant permission for a third Heathrow runway at the High Court are: a consortium including the local authorities of Hillingdon, Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead, Greenpeace, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan; Heathrow Hub Limited - promoters of a rival scheme to expand Heathrow; Friends of the Earth; Plan B, an environmental campaign group; and Neil Spurrier, a Twickenham resident.

Proposal for a Third Runway at Heathrow Approved by Parliament

On 25th June 2018, the UK Parliament voted to approve the "Airports National Policy Statement: new runway capacity and infrastructure at airports in the South East of England" as presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 9(8) of the Planning Act 2008.

The document outlines Government policy relating to airport expansion in the south east of England with a third runway at Heathrow being its favoured option. 

Opponents of the project have six weeks from the 25th to challenge the scheme in the High Court via judicial review.

It is up to  Heathrow Airport Limited (or a third party), to apply for a development consent order for the project to proceed, depending on the result of any court proceedings.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 with the runway opening in 2026.

The policy document can be found here 

Further information on the planning process can be found here.