Both Sides Urge You to Respond to Heathrow Consultation
Deadline for comments on expansion plan is imminent
A visualisation of the masterplan for the expanded airport. Picture: Heathrow Ltd
August 28, 2026
With just days remaining before the Government’s consultation on Heathrow expansion closes on 1 September, MPs, campaigners and industry supporters are urging residents to make their views known on the contentious proposals.
The consultation, launched in June, seeks public feedback on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement — the framework that will guide future planning decisions on a third runway.
The Government argues that expansion at the UK’s busiest airport is essential for economic growth, improved connectivity and long-term competitiveness. Ministers say a third runway could support more than 60,000 new local jobs, strengthen domestic and international links, and deliver up to £42 billion in economic benefits. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has described the consultation as “a positive step towards realising the benefits of a third runway,” while former Chancellor Rachel Reeves called it “a key milestone in delivering the infrastructure our country needs.”
Supporters of expansion emphasise Heathrow’s role as a global hub. Back Heathrow campaigners point out that the airport welcomed 84.5 million passengers last year and supports more than 80,000 on-site jobs, with many workers living in West London. They argue that 70% of Britain’s air cargo travels in the belly of passenger planes through Heathrow, underpinning supply chains and manufacturing exports nationwide. A recent poll cited by supporters suggests 68% of residents in neighbouring areas favour a new runway. They also note that Parliament previously backed expansion by a large majority and that the Supreme Court has ruled the project can proceed within strict environmental limits.
However, opponents say the consultation is being rushed and lacks sufficient detail for communities to understand how they would be affected. Environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth, warn that expansion is incompatible with the UK’s climate commitments. Government analysis suggests a third runway could increase aviation emissions by around 6 million tonnes of CO₂ every year, while nitrogen oxide emissions could rise by 55% and PM2.5 pollution by 60%. Campaigners also highlight noise impacts, with assessments indicating up to 4.65 million people could be affected — more than at any other airport in the world.
Local MPs have raised concerns too. Putney MP Fleur Anderson is urging residents to respond before the deadline, warning that communities under existing flight paths already experience aircraft overhead every 90 seconds at busy times. She argues that expansion would mean “hundreds more flights, more noise, more air pollution and greater pressure on our environment,” and has submitted a formal objection to the consultation. Anderson says the Government has not demonstrated a convincing need for expansion and that the costs to communities such as Putney are significant.
Campaign groups including the No 3rd Runway Coalition say the consultation’s timing — launched on Clean Air Day and running over the summer holidays — limited public scrutiny. They warn that expansion could lead to the displacement of residents, major construction impacts and higher passenger charges, and have compared the project to HS2 in terms of scale, cost and risk.
The consultation marks the latest stage in a decades-long debate over Heathrow’s future. Developers will need to show how any scheme meets four key tests on climate, air quality, noise and economic benefit before a final planning decision is made in 2029. The Government has asked the Climate Change Committee to advise on how expansion could align with legally binding net-zero targets, and airspace modernisation plans are being developed in parallel.
Residents, businesses and local authorities have until 1 September to submit their views. Responses can be sent to henpsconsultation@dft.gov.uk, and campaign organisations from both sides of the debate are encouraging people to write in their own wordsYou can also respond to the consultation online.
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