The government has finally approved the construction of a third runway at Heathrow. This paves the way for more flights per year at the west London airport. After a long-awaited response, the authorities finally endorsed the Airport Commission’s recommendation to expand Heathrow airport instead of Gatwick airport (which originally hoped to construct an extra runway).

This move comes exactly six years after the previous plans for a third runway was scrapped by the Conservative-led coalition. The government is now set to propose a six-hour-30-minute ban on scheduled night flights as well as imposing stricter night noise restriction a requirement of the expansion. The authority will also propose fresh legally binding noise targets.

It was confirmed by the government that this scheme would be brought forward by way of a draft national policy, which will be consulted after the new year commences. The authority stressed its commitment to ensuring the UK is always open for business and remains a hub for trade and tourism.

This initiative to expand the airport will be voted by parliament in the year 2017 or 2018. An extra runway and sixth terminal will be constructed on the northwest side of the airport’s perimeter under the airport’s proposed scheme. The village of Harmondsworth has been marked for demolition due to its proximity to the airport.

A Third Runway at Heathrow Airport will Deliver the Following:

Economic advantages to passengers and a bigger economy in the last 60 years’ worth about £61 billion.

  • Lower fares, fewer delays and better connections to destinations like Asia and South America.
  •  Nearly 77,000 additional jobs created by the year 2030.
  • 5,000 new apprenticeships by the year 2030.
  • Additional 16 million haul passenger seats by 2040.
  • Six other regional routes proposed.
  • Heathrow will introduce night flights for the first time.
  • Mitigation package worth at least £2.6 billion for the community most hit by the expansion.

Including:

  • People with houses subject to compulsory purchase getting a hefty 125% of the full market value of their property, including legal fees, stamp duty, and moving costs.
  • A £700 million package for home noise insulation.
  • £40 million package to insulate and ventilate other community buildings and schools.
  • An estimated £450 million would be available to the local authorities through business retention rate.
  • The Community Compensation Fund could rack up a further £750 million for the local communities which will be determined during the planning process.

Widespread protests and other challenges are expected to kick off following Tuesday’s decision by authorities, with campaigners of the project expected to stay focused on air quality, noise, and the country’s climate change commitments.

The runway is expected to be completed by 2025