Environmental Row over Heathrow Runway

It is expected that, in coming days, approval will be given for the construction of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport – a decision likely to fuel the arguments over the environmental impact of this development.

Six years ago, now, a government white paper advocated that Heathrow – together with London Stansted – should have another runway laid in place, but only if it could be done in an environmentally friendly way.

Heathrow Consultation

The Heathrow (third runway) consultation, begun two years ago, was launched to explore whether the airport’s expansion would be possible without infringing these environmental guidelines. On the basis of the introduction of this third runway and the consequent higher number of arriving/ departing flights that Heathrow will handle, three particular criteria need to be met, say the government. These criteria are guidelines laid down by the EU in respect of the preservation of air quality, an improvement in public access to Heathrow (i.e. improved transport links) and ensuring that aircraft noise stays within acceptable limits.

According to the Department of Transport, these three demands are all viable to be met. However, many people have been opposed to this verdict, since BAA – the airport operating group responsible for running Heathrow – assisted the department in responding to the criteria demanded.

Nitrogen Dioxide

A chief concern shared by many within the EU is that, with more airliners flying in and out of Heathrow, nitrogen dioxide output will go beyond what is considered a safe level.

So-called “mixed-mode” landing and take-off scheduling will come into play on both of Heathrow’s present runways, where arrivals and departures on each are constantly altered, as opposed to the current situation, where landings take place on one, and take offs on another.

It is this mixed-mode usage that, according to European environmental commissioner Stavros Dimas, will mean that current nitrogen dioxide limits become “significantly” surpassed.

Aircraft Noise Pollution

On the subject of noise pollution, present legislation restricts the area around Heathrow where residents are exposed to airliner noise at or below a level of 57 decibels to 127 square kilometres. The government is of the opinion that this situation can be maintained after the third runway has been introduced, but has conceded that, for its initial decade of use, it will not be able to accommodate anywhere near the number of arrivals/ departures that it otherwise could.

On public transport to/ from Heathrow, it is anticipated that the government will address the issue of improvements alongside the third runway approval announcement: among these improvements – a possible high-speed rail service linking the airport to the North of England.

Should the government be forthcoming in approving Heathrow’s expansion, this would not give BAA an immediate licence to start it, but any new planning application would need to take the government’s decision into account.

A change in government, however, could stop the expansion going ahead at any rate, since the Conservative Party have already spoken of their desire to curb it, and a general election will be happening at a yet-unknown date, but before June 2010.