The saga of Heathrow’s third runway has been continuing for decades, with ministerial resignations, U-turns from politicians against the backdrop of climate disaster, including 0.2C of global heating since the expansion was first proposed. Now, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is hoping to kickstart the expansion again in a push for economic growth.
But critics including the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, say it will do little for growth, cause disruption, and fly in the face of the UK’s climate commitments.
Heathrow first publicly calls for a third runway
May 2003
After years of rumours during the approval process for Heathrow Terminal 5, and despite repeated denials, BAA plc admitted publicly for the first time that it aimed to get approval for a third runway at Heathrow, in its response to the government’s airport consultation.
The push for a third runway is widely condemned by local groups, London politicians and even by the sector – because of the airport’s previous denials that it was seeking expansion.
Government cautiously backs expansion but airs pollution concerns
December 2003
The then transport secretary, Alistair Darling, launches the government’s aviation white paper, which says Heathrow would have been the preferred location for the next runway in south-east England but that it is concerned about air pollution. It says it expects a third runway to be built within 12 years.
Campaign grows against third runway
August 2007
Protesters set up the Camp for Climate Action near Sipson, on the northern edge of Heathrow, which leads to clashes with police. The government reaffirms cautious support for Heathrow expansion in its updated white paper the previous year.
Cameron says Tories will oppose expansion
Summer 2008
A Conservative government is likely to block a third runway for Heathrow airport, David Cameron says, criticising the then prime minister, Gordon Brown, for “pig-headedly” pressing ahead with the scheme. He says there will be no third runways – “no ifs, no buts”.
The EU warns that the UK will miss EU-imposed nitrogen oxide targets if expansion proceeds.
Brown approves plan, with criticism from Labour and Boris Johnson
January 2009
The transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, officially gives the go-ahead to a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, but promised the “toughest climate change regime for aviation anywhere in the world”.
Cabinet opponents, led by the environment secretary, Hilary Benn, and energy secretary, Ed Miliband, express considerable concerns. Boris Johnson, then the Conservative mayor of London, denounces the decision and there is a Commons revolt by Labour MPs.
Cameron formally cancels plans for third runway
May 2010
The coalition government, with Cameron as prime minister, formally says there will be no third runway. The new government says it will also refuse any additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted.
Cameron and Osborne reconsider Heathrow plans
June 2012
In March, it is reported that Cameron and his chancellor, George Osborne, have been convinced of the need to re-examine long-term policy on Heathrow after lobbying by overseas leaders and business figures. By June, the government says it will not block BAA from submitting proposals.
Conservatives and coalition split over Heathrow
September 2012
Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, promises the Lib Dems will not accept Heathrow expansion. Johnson describes the idea as a “disaster”, while Zac Goldsmith threatens to quit as MP for Richmond Park and trigger a byelection. Justine Greening, the transport secretary and Heathrow critic, is removed in a reshuffle.
Heathrow chief apologises for broken promises
December 2014
John Holland-Kaye, the airport’s chief executive, says Heathrow should never have ruled out building a third runway. “I am shocked by that commitment. It should never have been made. And it could never be kept. That is not an excuse. It is an apology,” he says.
Johnson pledges to keep opposing expansion
May 2015
Standing for election to parliament in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Johnson says he will “lie down with you in front of those bulldozers and stop the building, stop the construction of that third runway.”
Davies commission backs expansion
July 2015
The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, the former director general of the CBI, publishes a report calling for a new runway north-west of Heathrow. It says conditions should include a ban on night flights, legally binding caps on noise and air quality – and legislation to rule out ever building a fourth runway. Local groups and environmental campaigners are dismayed.
May delays Heathrow vote amid Tory divisions
October 2016
Theresa May delays the vote on airport expansion amid warnings Tory MPs could resign their seats. Longstanding opponents are in the cabinet, including Boris Johnson, now the foreign secretary, and Justine Greening, now the education secretary.
Commons backs Heathrow as Johnson skips vote
June 2018
The Commons backs Heathrow expansion by 415 votes to 119 – a majority of 296. But Boris Johnson, now foreign secretary, faces sharp criticism from fellow Conservative MPs over his decision to skip the crunch vote on Heathrow expansion by flying out of the UK on an official visit to Afghanistan.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, says it is “a threat to the planet” and that an “iconic, totemic” battle will be unleashed over climate change. But more than 100 Labour MPs vote in favour.
Court of appeal blocks expansion
February 2020
The court of appeal finds the government’s approval of the runway is illegal because ministers has failed to take into account the UK’s commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord, which requires keeping the global temperature rise as close to 1.5C as possible.
Supreme court overturns block on Heathrow
December 2020
The ruling means the airport can now seek a development consent order, a type of planning permission for nationally significant infrastructure. However, Covid-19 travel restrictions devastate aviation and Heathrow says the runway could be delayed by five years, having previously set 2028 as a completion date.
The Stay Grounded campaign calls it “a betrayal of our children’s future and incompatible with the UK’s climate commitments.” Experts question how expansion can be compatible with new legally binding commitments to net zero.
Reeves backs third runway
January 2025
The Labour chancellor, Rachel Reeves, gives her support for a third runway at Heathrow, as part of a speech on plans to boost the economy. There are fears expansion will mean the UK will break its legally binding carbon budget.
In a major speech in Oxfordshire on growth, she says the expansion is “badly needed” because “for decades its growth has been constrained”.
She says that “by backing a third runway at Heathrow we can make Britain the world’s best-connected place to do business”.
WWF said the chancellor was “making a serious mistake by prioritising costly projects like airport expansions that take decades to build, send carbon emissions skywards, and leave real growth stuck on the runway”.
