More than one option is expected including a ‘north west’ runway, as well as one similar to the ‘original’ third runway which failed in 2010.
A north west runway proposal in 2019 which would have been at least 3,500 metres in length has since been stalled.
A shorter third runway which was proposed in 2009 under Labour could mean a shorter third runway of around 2,200 metres.
Ahead of proposals being submitted to Government, Paul McGuinness, Chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said:
“The government estimates the cost of Heathrow’s expansion at an absurdly expensive £42bn, against the £2.2bn cost of Gatwick expansion, and rating agency Standard & Poor believes that already heavily indebted Heathrow will simply be unable to finance it without significant shareholder capital investment.
“Notwithstanding the decade of construction disruption it would entail, the need to divert rivers and re-route major A-roads and demolish villages.
“It will also have to rehouse 15,000 people even before any new infrastructure can be laid, there’s a real danger that we’ll end up with a hole in the ground and a debt pile for taxpayers to underwrite, because the government had foolishly encouraged Heathrow’s profligate self-interest, as if blind to the lessons of HS2.”
