Heathrow has warned that its £49bn expansion programme could be delayed until 2039 unless the planning process is streamlined, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham declines to endorse the project.
Heathrow’s proposed third runway could open four years later than the previously targeted 2035 completion date, with the airport warning that planning requirements threaten the delivery timetable.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has refused to back the expansion, describing its future as “a matter for Londoners”. Speaking to the BBC, he added: “I think we ought to hear the voice of people there first.”
Planning pressures threaten delivery
The airport estimates that its planning application alone could cost up to £800m, with submission expected in 2027 or 2028.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also remains opposed, citing concerns over noise, air pollution and climate commitments.
Major engineering and infrastructure works
The government selected Heathrow’s Grimshaw-designed proposal over a smaller, cheaper alternative developed by Scott Brownrigg.
The scheme includes a 3.5km runway requiring extensive infrastructure modifications, including tunnelling a section of the M25, demolishing hundreds of homes and diverting nearby rivers.
Of the £49bn programme, £21bn is allocated to runway construction and £12bn to associated terminal infrastructure, alongside wider airport modernisation.
The government has confirmed that the expansion and surrounding surface infrastructure improvements would be privately financed.
Both Unite and GMB support the project, with GMB highlighting the potential for 108,000 jobs.
The expansion would increase Heathrow’s annual flight capacity from 480,000 to approximately 720,000.
Image credit: Heathrow
