UK launches consultation on Heathrow expansion policy

The UK government has launched a public consultation on a revised national policy statement for the expansion of Heathrow Airport, a critical step toward building a third runway by 2035. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the move on Thursday, June 18, 2026, designating the project as "critical national growth infrastructure," a status that could help it bypass certain local planning obstacles.

The draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) establishes the planning framework and conditions any future development consent application must meet. It does not grant final approval but sets out the government's requirements. The policy mandates that expansion must contribute to UK-wide economic growth, be compatible with legally binding climate targets, not cause new breaches of air quality limits, and ensure noise impacts are no worse than 2024 levels, with reductions where possible. The government also requires promoters to demonstrate how increased passenger demand would be accommodated through necessary road and rail improvements.

A significant development within the newly published planning documents is the government's acknowledgment that a phased...