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The Smart Solution to Expansion at Heathrow
Extending the Northern Runway – enabling environmental standards to be met, not compromised
Our Proposal
Our Proposal
An Extended Runway
Heathrow Hub is an independent proposal for additional capacity at Heathrow, by extending the existing northern runway westwards away from London, negating the need to build a 3rd runway. Planes would land at one end and take off at the other. The scheme is cheaper, greener, quicker, simpler and quieter than Heathrow Airport Ltd.’s North West Runway (3rd runway) scheme. It also destroys fewer houses and was deemed viable by the Airports Commission.
Protecting the Environment
Phased construction to allow emissions targets to be met, not compromised
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The critical aviation challenge for the United Kingdom is to maintain the country’s connectivity and competitiveness by enhancing airport hub capacity in the most sustainable manner possible.
Our Extended Northern Runway (ENR) proposal meets that challenge. Unlike Heathrow Airport Ltd’s 3rd Runway, construction can be phased, giving the Government and regulators the ability to enforce noise and air quality impacts before releasing any new capacity for additional flights.
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The cost of Heathrow Airport Ltd’s 3rd Runway scheme is so high that its funding relies, not only on adding 50% more capacity or 260,000 flights annually within two years of a new runway opening, but also on adding 25,000 more flights, mostly in the early morning, even before a new runway is completed.
By contrast, the low cost and efficient design of our extended runway means it is affordable without any more flights, so the additional capacity can first be
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used to make Heathrow operate more efficiently, with fewer delays, less taxiing and better respite, reducing environmental impacts.
At a time when Government policy is net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Heathrow Hub’s proposal enables environmental standards to be met, not compromised, by its expansion plans.
Advantages
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Cheaper
Total scheme cost of £9.7bn, with a first phase costing £4.7bn. Our scheme is privately funded and would keep passenger landing charges flat.
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Greener
Phased construction means control over air quality targets. Expansion can be safely stopped if environmental safeguards are not met.
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Quicker & Simpler
Less land, less destruction, less delivery risk.
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Quieter
No new communities in the overall noise footprint and greater respite for those who are already in it.
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Safety
Our proposed safety zone is over twice the length required by international regulation. It has been deemed viable by the Airports Commission.
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Road & Rail access
We believe it’s essential to make travel to Heathrow easier and quicker while reducing emissions.
Press releases
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PRESS RELEASE - 07/01/2020The wheels are coming off the 3rd Runway, Boris Johnson should announce an urgent review
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PRESS RELEASE - 20/12/2019Pressure mounts on Grant Shapps to review Heathrow’s 3rd Runway
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PRESS RELEASE - 04/12/2017Independent safety review reveals “significant flaws” of third runway at Heathrow
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