Heathrow Airport: Supreme Court rules in favour of third runway

Heathrow Airport has won a Supreme Court challenge over the Government's decision to give the go-ahead for a third runway.

The initial plans for the expansion were blocked by the Appeal Court.

They said that the government’s airports strategy didn’t meet UK climate targets, but that ruling has now been overturned and Heathrow can now apply for planning permission for the third runway.

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Paul McGuinness, who chairs the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said the ruling "may yet prove irrelevant with so much having changed since Heathrow was recommended for expansion".

The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Heathrow over third runway.The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Heathrow over third runway.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Heathrow over third runway.
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He went on: "The assessments on air quality, noise, carbon and the economics are all out of date, with chunks having already been exposed as inadequate.

"Moreover, the Government's climate advisers say expanding Heathrow in the prosperous South East would mean restrictions on aviation in less advantaged regions. Such a drift in policy is not compatible with today's levelling up agenda.

"Heathrow's campaign is mired in economic self-interest and, rather than allowing it to drift on interminably, we would urge the Government to look to the country's wider interests and drop the Airports National Policy Statement altogether."

John Stewart, who chairs anti-Heathrow expansion group Hacan, added: "Despite this verdict, there remains real doubt about whether the third runway will ever see the light of day.

"Recovery is all that is on Heathrow's mind right now. Flight numbers are down nearly 90%. The airport's expansion team has long since been disbanded.

"A third runway remains no more than a distant and uncertain prospect."

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