Timeline
Heathrow
third runway: a saga of promises, protest and U-turns
With Reeves
looking set to approve the contested expansion, here is a timeline of 21 years
of changing policy
Jessica
Elgot Deputy political editor
Wed 29 Jan
2025 06.00 GMT
The saga of
Heathrow’s third runway has been continuing for decades, with ministerial
resignations, U-turns from politicians against the backdrop of climate
disaster, including 0.2C of global heating since the expansion was first
proposed. Now the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is hoping to kickstart the
expansion again in a push for economic growth.
But critics
including the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, say it will do little for growth, cause
disruption, and fly in the face of the UK’s climate commitments.
Heathrow
first publicly calls for a third runway
May 2003
After years
of rumours during the approval process for Heathrow Terminal 5, and despite
repeated denials, BAA plc admitted publicly for the first time that it aimed to
get approval for a third runway at Heathrow, in its response to the
government’s airport consultation.
The push for
a third runway is widely condemned by local groups, London politicians and even
by the sector – because of the airport’s previous denials that it was seeking
expansion.
Government
cautiously backs expansion but airs pollution concerns
December
2003
The then
transport secretary, Alistair Darling, launches the government’s aviation white
paper, which says Heathrow would have been the preferred location for the next
runway in south-east England but that it is concerned about air pollution. It
says it expects a third runway to be built within 12 years.
Campaign
grows against third runway
August
2007
Protesters
set up the Camp for Climate Action near Sipson, on the northern edge of
Heathrow, which leads to clashes with police. The government reaffirms cautious
support for Heathrow expansion in its updated white paper the previous year.
Cameron
says Tories will oppose expansion
Summer
2008
A
Conservative government is likely to block a third runway for Heathrow airport,
David Cameron says, criticising the then prime minister, Gordon Brown, for
“pig-headedly” pressing ahead with the scheme. He says there will be no third
runways – “no ifs, no buts”.
The EU warns
that the UK will miss EU-imposed nitrogen oxide targets if expansion proceeds.
Brown
approves plan, with criticism from Labour and Boris Johnson
January
2009
The
transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, officially gives the go-ahead to a third
runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, but promised the “toughest climate
change regime for aviation anywhere in the world”.
Cabinet
opponents, led by the environment secretary, Hilary Benn, and energy secretary,
Ed Miliband, express considerable concerns. Boris Johnson, then the
Conservative mayor of London, denounces the decision and there is a Commons
revolt by Labour MPs.
Cameron
formally cancels plans for third runway
May 2010
The
coalition government, with Cameron as prime minister, formally says there will
be no third runway. The new government says it will also refuse any additional
runways at Gatwick and Stansted.
Cameron
and Osborne reconsider Heathrow plans
June 2012
In March, it
is reported that Cameron and his chancellor, George Osborne, have been
convinced of the need to re-examine long-term policy on Heathrow after lobbying
by overseas leaders and business figures. By June, the government says it will
not block BAA from submitting proposals.
Conservatives
and coalition split over Heathrow
September
2012
Nick Clegg,
the deputy prime minister, promises the Lib Dems will not accept Heathrow
expansion. Johnson describes the idea as a “disaster”, while Zac Goldsmith
threatens to quit as MP for Richmond Park and trigger a byelection. Justine
Greening, the transport secretary and Heathrow critic, is removed in a
reshuffle.
Heathrow
chief apologises for broken promises
December
2014
John
Holland-Kaye, the airport’s chief executive, says Heathrow should never have
ruled out building a third runway. “I am shocked by that commitment. It should
never have been made. And it could never be kept. That is not an excuse. It is
an apology,” he says.
Johnson
pledges to keep opposing expansion
May 2015
Standing for
election to parliament in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Johnson says he will “lie
down with you in front of those bulldozers and stop the building, stop the
construction of that third runway.”
Davies
commission backs expansion
July 2015
The Airports
Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, the former director general of the
CBI, publishes a report calling for a new runway north-west of Heathrow. It
says conditions should include a ban on night flights, legally binding caps on
noise and air quality – and legislation to rule out ever building a fourth
runway. Local groups and environmental campaigners are dismayed.
May
delays Heathrow vote amid Tory divisions
October
2016
Theresa May
delays the vote on airport expansion amid warnings Tory MPs could resign their
seats. Longstanding opponents are in the cabinet, including Boris Johnson, now
the foreign secretary, and Justine Greening, now the education secretary.
Commons
backs Heathrow as Johnson skips vote
June 2018
The Commons
backs Heathrow expansion by 15 votes to 119 – a majority of 296. But Boris
Johnson, now foreign secretary, faces sharp criticism from fellow Conservative
MPs over his decision to skip the crunch vote on Heathrow expansion by flying
out of the UK on an official visit to Afghanistan.
John
McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, says it is “a threat to the planet” and that
an “iconic, totemic” battle will be unleashed over climate change. But more
than 100 Labour MPs vote in favour.
Court of
appeal blocks expansion
February
2020
The court of
appeal finds the government’s approval of the runway is illegal because
ministers has failed to take into account the UK’s commitments under the 2015
Paris climate accord, which requires keeping the global temperature rise as
close to 1.5C as possible.
Supreme
court overturns block on Heathrow
December
2020
The ruling
means the airport can now seek a development consent order, a type of planning
permission for nationally significant infrastructure. However, Covid-19 travel
restrictions devastate aviation and Heathrow says the runway could be delayed
by five years, having previously set 2028 as a completion date.
The Stay
Grounded campaign calls it “a betrayal of our children’s future and
incompatible with the UK’s climate commitments.” Experts question how expansion
can be compatible with new legally binding commitments to net zero.
Reeves
indicates Labour will back expansion
January
2024
The Labour
chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to make an announcement backing airport
expansion, as part of a speech on plans to boost the economy. There are fears
expansion will mean the UK will break its legally binding carbon budget.
Reeves has
not confirmed her decision but indicated support, saying it “will mean that
instead of circling London, flights can land” and that sustainable fuel could
help the UK meet its environmental obligations.
WWF says the
revival of the plans will “send carbon emissions skywards, leave growth stuck
on the runway, and suck money out of the UK.”
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