Heathrow airport expansion faces growing opposition

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Plans for the third runway at Heathrow still face a number of obstacles, and contractors shouldn’t be celebrating just yet, a construction lawyer has warned.

When the story broker earlier this week about the government’s plan to back a new third runway at the airport the news was greeted enthusiastically by the construction industry.

But Liz Jenkins, partner and ‎international projects & construction lawyer at Clyde & Co, said that while many are pleased with the decision it is the first step in what is likely to be a long process.

She said: “The contractors will have to put the champagne on ice as there is likely to be a number of legal hurdles to overcome before any shovels can break ground.

“Apart from the political opposition, there will be opposition from activist local residents, local authorities and environmentalists on a host of legal, planning and regulatory issues, such as noise and emissions.”

A number of issues have emerged in the last few days, as questions have been raised about pollution as well as the actual economic impact the runway would have over an alternative plan at Gatwick airport.

The long-awaited decision on the runway has already been attacked by London mayor Sadiq Khan as well as cabinet ministers Boris Johnson and Justine Greening and sparked the resignation of Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith.

It could face a number of court battles, including one from Richmond council over air pollution. Richmond council leader Lord True told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was “taking legal advice”.

The Conservative peer said Heathrow was “busting air quality legal limits” and was responsible for “40% of all noise pollution in Europe associated with airports”.

He added: “The fact that the government has already delayed action for a year results from our reminding them that they hadn’t yet fulfilled things which they’re required to do under the existing law.”

Transport secretary Chris Grayling has also since revealed that the third runway could involve planes taking off from a “ramp” over the M25 motorway. 

Also speaking on the Today programme on Thursday, Grayling said this would be “cheaper and quicker” than building a tunnel for the M25 under the new runway and would cause less disruption for drivers during construction.

He said: “It is a cheaper and quicker way of doing it. I am, of course, very concerned to make sure that, as this runway is built, it doesn’t cause massive disruption on the M25, so I think this is a sensible way.

“It is a very gentle hill up which the planes would take off rather than a flat surface. It’s what happens at very many airports around the world.”