There was a surprise inclusion in the Airports Commission’s December Interim Report on airport expansion in the South East; as well as the conclusion that at least one extra runway is needed by 2030 – well, we all knew that one – they announced three new runway options at just two airports, Gatwick and Heathrow. So, what was the surprise inclusion? A proposal from Heathrow Hub to extend the existing runway to the north of Heathrow by a minimum of 6,000m, which would allow it to operate as two independent runways.
The proposal is based on a plan by Jock Lowe, a former Concorde pilot, and is not one that had been considered by many outside of the Commission but that it’s been included is positive and could be welcomed by many people who live and work in and around Heathrow.
Another positive step, and one that should have been taken a long time ago, is that Heathrow Airport Holdings are expected to launch a public consultation with local communities in the near future to ascertain what support and how strong the feeling is for either a new third runway, or the alternative plan to extend the northern runway. This action and the response from the local community could well play an important role in the final decision.
It is worth remembering though that a major problem with expansion at Heathrow is the noise factor, something that would increase should any expansion, in whatever format, take place at this airport. Should the local community want to maintain their current periods of respite where no aircraft can be heard overhead, then it is considered that the public are more likely to opt for the new third runway option. However, should the idea that more communities would suffer from aircraft noise garner a stronger feeling, Heathrow Hub’s option could be their preferred choice.
Lowe himself, perhaps predictably, is reported as saying that his and Heathrow Hub’s proposal did offer “quite a lot” of respite, and would also lessen the number of residents that would be affected by night flights as aircraft would be able to land on the western end of the extended runway. Another waiting game is to be played, but at least it’s moving in the right direction.
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By Oliver Derek