Hillingdon Council Opposes Heathrow Expansion Plans
The council has submitted its response to the government's draft Heathrow Expansion Policy Strategy, proposing a new Community Impact Test.
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Hillingdon Council has submitted its formal response to the government's draft Heathrow Expansion Policy Strategy, stating its long-standing opposition to airport expansion. The council argues the draft strategy appears more focused on enabling a third runway rather than determining if it should proceed. An overview of the response was shared at a Hillingdon Council cabinet meeting on 17 July.
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The council's submission highlights concerns that the draft policy lacks meaningful failure points and clear red lines, offering no obvious route to refusing a third runway. Hillingdon Council contends that the government's own evidence identifies uncertainty regarding the scale and distribution of economic benefits, while the impacts on local communities, public services, transport networks, health, and the environment are substantial and often unavoidable. The response also notes that the government's four existing tests for economic growth, air quality, noise, and climate change do not include clear pass or fail criteria, failing to specify circumstances under which expansion should be refused.
Council officers attended a Transport Committee scrutiny session of the strategy in Westminster this week, presenting Hillingdon's position. The council argues that Parliament is being asked to endorse expansion before its acceptability has been demonstrated.
Proposal for a Community Impact Test
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Hillingdon Council, as the host authority for Heathrow, highlighted the unique burden placed on the borough, including long-term impacts from noise, pollution, congestion, community disruption, and pressure on local services. To address these issues, the council proposes the addition of a fifth 'Community Impact Test' to scrutinise the effects of the airport's operations on the borough and its residents. Hillingdon Council stated that if the government proceeds, the policy requires fundamental strengthening with tougher tests, stronger safeguards, independent oversight, enforceable mitigation, full funding for public service impacts, and a fairer distribution of benefits for affected communities.
Our position has never wavered - the council remains unequivocally opposed to Heathrow expansion. Our residents have already lived with decades of noise, pollution, congestion and uncertainty, and we do not believe a robust and sound case for a third runway has been made.
Cllr Steve Tuckwell, council leader
Cllr Steve Tuckwell, council leader, stated that the government's evidence does not provide a compelling case for expansion and that residents should not bear increasing impacts for uncertain benefits. The full response is available on the Hillingdon Council website.
Questions this report answers
+What is Hillingdon Council's stance on Heathrow expansion?
Hillingdon Council remains unequivocally opposed to Heathrow expansion. The council has submitted a response to the government's draft Heathrow Expansion Policy Strategy, arguing that a compelling case for a third runway has not been made and that residents already bear significant burdens from noise, pollution, and congestion.
+What new test does Hillingdon Council propose?
Hillingdon Council proposes the addition of a fifth 'Community Impact Test' to the government's expansion assessment criteria. This test would specifically scrutinise the effects of the airport's operations on the borough and its residents, addressing concerns about noise, pollution, congestion, and pressure on local services.
+Why does Hillingdon Council believe the current strategy is insufficient?
The council believes the draft strategy lacks meaningful failure points and clear red lines, offering no obvious route to refuse a third runway. Hillingdon Council also points to uncertainty in the economic benefits and clear, substantial impacts on communities, public services, transport, health, and the environment, which are not adequately addressed.
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