The Back Heathrow campaign has today (Tuesday) welcomed the announcement by Heathrow Airport Limited of its plan for neutral carbon growth once the airport’s third runway is built.

Back Heathrow executive director Parmjit Dhanda said: “The parliamentary vote in June on the National Policy Statement on airports was very clear that the third runway could only happen if measures to counter air quality issues were addressed.

“This will include plans to reduce aircraft taxi times and develop new methods of carbon offsetting, for example by pledging to invest in UK peatland restoration. The airport also will review its policy for charging electric aircraft.”

HAL says it will offer free landing fees for a year at the airport for its first commercially viable electric flights and will continue offering cheaper landing fees for cleaner and quieter aircraft. The details of these and other measures will be developed through consultation with local communities and will be legally binding through the development consent process which begins in earnest in 2019. 

Dhanda said the Back Heathrow campaign agreed with the House of Commons Transport Select committee which said that the economic benefits of the project were compelling. “The third runway development will bring thousands of new jobs to the local and wider UK economy and provide 10,000 apprenticeships. What is exciting is that this massive infrastructure project can be delivered at the same time as mitigating environmental concerns.”