Heathrow expansion - our policy

As a council, we have a long-standing, cross-party opposition to Heathrow Airport Expansion.

Our 2022-2026 Corporate Plan affirms our opposition to Heathrow Expansion and commits us to oppose the third runway, further night flights, and to monitor the impact of ongoing airspace modernisation consultations.

2026

In June 2026, the government published a draft revised Airports National Policy Statement, now renamed the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement. If approved, this would provide the national planning framework for deciding any future application for a Northwest Runway at Heathrow.

We remain firmly opposed to the draft policy in its current form. We are concerned that it gives too much weight to expansion and not enough weight to the environmental, health and community impacts on residents already affected by Heathrow.

We are particularly concerned that Heathrow expansion could:

• Increase the number of flights over London and south-west London
• Reduce predictable periods of respite from aircraft noise
• Allow mixed mode operations or other changes that increase disruption for residents
• Increase or concentrate flight paths over densely populated communities
• Worsen air quality and congestion
• Increase carbon emissions
• Place additional pressure on local and regional transport networks
• Undermine local efforts to improve public health and protect vulnerable residents

The government has said that any expansion must meet four tests covering air quality, noise, climate change and economic growth. We do not believe the draft tests are strong enough.

In particular, we are calling for:

• Stronger protections on aircraft noise
• No loss of existing respite
• Genuine night flight ban
• More robust air quality standards
• Independent assessment of climate impacts
• A full assessment of the economic case including health, congestion, carbon and community costs

Our position remains that London needs a better Heathrow, not a bigger one. We will continue to work with neighbouring boroughs, MPs, community groups and the No 3rd Runway Coalition to oppose expansion and press for stronger protections for residents.

2020

In December 2020, the Leader of Richmond Council Cllr Gareth Roberts reaffirmed our opposition to expansion. He said:

“Covid has changed everything. Even Heathrow’s chief executive has admitted that a new runway would not be needed for years due to the pandemic.

“The government must now urgently review where future capacity is most needed – but this must be based on its commitments to legally-binding emissions targets and a UK-wide approach that properly reflects regional priorities.

“The Council’s priority is to protect the environment for its residents and achieve measurable and lasting improvements in their quality of life.

“This means a permanent end to night flights and the adoption of tougher measures to limit noise impacts. This should include rejecting the practice of ‘route concentration’ as a means of squeezing in more flights over densely populated areas. All this does is both increase noise and emissions. 

“As local councils we want the industry to get back on its feet. This doesn’t mean a return to the days of uncontrolled expansion. Those days are gone. Heathrow, like the rest of the sector, has to work within the context of legally binding emissions targets and heightened public awareness of environmental impacts.”

2015

Previously, the Leader of Richmond Council and the Leader of the Opposition joined forces in 2015 to reaffirm our total opposition to controversial proposals to expand Heathrow with a third runway.