What does the expansion at Heathrow airport mean to you?

In January of this year, Geoff Hoon announced that the UK government supported the expansion of Heathrow should BAA continue with proposals to build a new runway by 2015. The new plans see the 2200 metre runway being built to the north of the existing airport running parallel and in between the northernmost runway and the M4 motorway. So what does the expansion mean to you?

One of the key arguments in opposition to the plans concerns the increase in pollution as a result of more airline traffic. As is reported in The Guardian, Greenpeace and WWF (along with local councils and a total of seven million individuals) oppose the expansion because it will greatly increase air and noise pollution. Using the government estimation that 210.8 Mt of carbon will be generated due to extra airport traffic, those in opposition believe that the cost to the government will reach in excess of £13 billion - enough to cancel out any economic benefits from the plans. Additionally, an extra runway will subject thousands more residents to noise pollution.

To counter any detrimental effect on the community, the Labour government argues that many jobs will be created with the proposed plans - giving the local community an economic boost. They argue that the construction of the runway will lead to a massive 60,000 jobs being created. In addition to these, after the construction the working of a larger airport will also result in 8,000 permanent opportunities for locals by 2030.

Although the expansion is sure to create jobs for the local community, those against the plans are quick to highlight the negative aspects for the area. Primarily, 700 homes will need to be demolished, as well as a church and some Grade 2 Listed Buildings. Others believe that the destruction will be more severe, with MP John McDonnell claiming that in total 4000 homes will be abandoned or demolished, alongside Harmondsworth High Street being split, a graveyard being ‘bulldozed' and the village of Sipson all but disappearing.

In spite of the impact on the local community, and the oppositions from some MPs and environmental organisations alike, it is no surprise that at this time the economic benefits seem very worthwhile. Heathrow is arguably the best located airport in the country, with excellent Heathrow airport parking, local accommodation and connections to London and the south. Without expansion at Heathrow, many argue that the UK is likely to "fall behind" the rest of the world in terms of economic growth - simply due to the notion that European and international investors will be less willing to establish themselves in London if there is better connectivity elsewhere. And as the decline in the UK economy worsens I wouldn't be surprised if we see an increase in supporters for Runway 3.

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