Plans to expand Heathrow Airport with a third runway have come under renewed political pressure as London Mayor Sadiq Khan reaffirmed his opposition, warning of “severe” consequences for local communities, environmental targets and London’s transport infrastructure.
The Mayor’s intervention raises questions about the deliverability of one of the UK’s most controversial infrastructure projects – one with far-reaching implications for the surrounding property market and investor confidence in the capital’s western corridor.
While supporters of the expansion argue that additional runway capacity is critical for maintaining London’s status as a global hub, the renewed political resistance could have a chilling effect on property development in the area.
Several large-scale residential and commercial schemes in west London – including in Hillingdon, Hounslow and Slough – have been shaped around assumptions of future airport-led growth.
SEVERE IMPACT
Khan in a statement said: “I remain opposed to a new runway at Heathrow Airport because of the severe impact it will have in terms of noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.
“I remain unconvinced that you can have a new runway at Heathrow, delivering hundreds of thousands of additional flights every year, without a hugely detrimental impact on our environment.”
Khan added that City Hall will now “carefully scrutinise” the revised expansion proposals, including their impact on local communities and the capital’s overstretched transport network. “We’ll be keeping all options on the table in how we respond,” he warned.
PLANNING DECISIONS
Any delays or disruption to the project may also influence long-term planning decisions by investors and developers, particularly those reliant on improved infrastructure links and employment clusters driven by airport activity.
The property sector will now be watching closely for further signals from the Department for Transport, Heathrow Airport Holdings and local planning authorities as the debate around the project intensifies.
