Up to 3 million people living near Heathrow could suffer significant adverse effects on their health and wellbeing if a third runway is built, an official report has warned, as the government launched the next stage of its rapid airport expansion plan.
The analysis for the Department for Transport (DfT), carried out by consultants Aecom, found that expanding London’s hub airport would have “major adverse” impacts on the health of the most local population. Construction and operation of the third runway will worsen not just noise and air quality, but also harm access to housing, education, healthcare, open space, and transport, the report said.
“Up to 3 million people face health risks from Heathrow third runway, official report warns”
It added that the expansion would impact water quality, weaken community identity and cohesion, worsen landscapes and townscapes, and affect climate change mitigation and adaptation. While the report acknowledged that the third runway would probably be beneficial for jobs, income, education, skills and training, it concluded: “Adverse effects are considered likely with regard to the other determinants which cover environmental and social considerations, and many of these have potential to be significant.”
Although the report is expected to help shape measures to mitigate the effect on residents, it says the impacts cannot be fully offset. A DfT spokesperson sought to downplay the findings, saying: “The health impact assessment describes what would happen if a third runway was built without any mitigations being put in place – mitigations we are actively working to implement. We know communities around Heathrow have legitimate concerns about expansion, which is why we are consulting on the policy underpinning a third runway – including preventing the worsening of noise emissions and reduction of air quality, and generating jobs for local people.”
The disclosure came in supporting documents as the government announced another milestone: the accelerated publication for consultation of a draft national policy statement backing the third runway. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “Today’s consultation is a positive step towards realising the benefits of a third runway, by giving businesses, communities and the public the chance to help shape this key project at one of the world’s most successful hub airports. We are determined to move quickly and responsibly to set a framework for expansion.”
In a separate development, ministers have opened the door to building the third runway in phases, in a bid to hit the government’s ambitious timeline. Planning documents published by the DfT on Thursday suggested that a phased construction of the mega-project may be necessary, a move that echoes a proposal tabled by rival bidder Heathrow West.
With the consultation now under way, the battle lines are drawn between the promise of economic growth and the profound health and environmental costs for millions living in the shadow of the runway.