Jump to content

Expansion of Heathrow Airport: Difference between revisions

Add links
Coordinates: 51°29′18″N 0°27′34″W / 51.48833°N 0.45944°W / 51.48833; -0.45944
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
{{coord|51|29|18|N|0|27|34|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
→Greenhouse gas emissions: spelling mistake. Changed Hower to However
Line 42: Line 42:
Environmental campaigners are concerned that the increased [[Carbon Dioxide|CO2]] emissions caused by the additional flights will contribute to [[global warming]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/08/travelandtransport.climatechange?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=2007-08-13 |accessdate=2007-12-23 |title=Campaign to stop Heathrow expansion takes to the roads}}</ref> They argue that the claimed economic benefits will be more than wiped out by the cost of the CO2 emissions. The government estimates that construction of a third runway will generate an additional 210.8 Mt CO2, but only costs this at £13.33 per ton of CO2 (2006 prices), so that the cost over 2020-2080 is only £2.8bn.<ref name="ia2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/heathrowconsultations/heathrowdecision/impactassessment/ia.pdf|title=Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Impact Assessment|publisher=Department for Transport|date=January 2009|accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> This is a small fraction of the government's own official estimate of the cost of carbon, which rises from £32.90 in 2020 to £108.20 in 2080 (in 2007 prices).<ref name="howtousespc">{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/research/carboncost/pdf/HowtouseSPC.pdf|title=How to use the Shadow Price of Carbon in policy appraisal|publisher=DEFRA|date=December 2007|accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> If these figures are used, the carbon cost of the third runway alone rises to £13.3bn (2006 prices), enough to wipe out the economic benefits.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/16/heathrow-third-runway</ref>
Environmental campaigners are concerned that the increased [[Carbon Dioxide|CO2]] emissions caused by the additional flights will contribute to [[global warming]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/08/travelandtransport.climatechange?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=2007-08-13 |accessdate=2007-12-23 |title=Campaign to stop Heathrow expansion takes to the roads}}</ref> They argue that the claimed economic benefits will be more than wiped out by the cost of the CO2 emissions. The government estimates that construction of a third runway will generate an additional 210.8 Mt CO2, but only costs this at £13.33 per ton of CO2 (2006 prices), so that the cost over 2020-2080 is only £2.8bn.<ref name="ia2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/heathrowconsultations/heathrowdecision/impactassessment/ia.pdf|title=Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Impact Assessment|publisher=Department for Transport|date=January 2009|accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> This is a small fraction of the government's own official estimate of the cost of carbon, which rises from £32.90 in 2020 to £108.20 in 2080 (in 2007 prices).<ref name="howtousespc">{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/research/carboncost/pdf/HowtouseSPC.pdf|title=How to use the Shadow Price of Carbon in policy appraisal|publisher=DEFRA|date=December 2007|accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> If these figures are used, the carbon cost of the third runway alone rises to £13.3bn (2006 prices), enough to wipe out the economic benefits.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/16/heathrow-third-runway</ref>


The [[World Development Movement]] has claimed that the proposed additional flights from Heathrow’s third runway would emit the same amount of CO2 per year as the whole of [[Kenya]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wdm.org.uk/news/flightsfromheathrow21112007.htm |title=Flights from Heathrow’s third runway will emit same amount of CO2 as Kenya |accessdate=2008-01-12 |date=2007-11-21 |publisher=[[World Development Movement]]}}</ref> Hower, the then-Transport Secretary [[Ruth Kelly]] stated that [[carbon emission]]s will not actually rise overall in the environment since [[Emissions trading|carbon trading]] will be used to ensure that these increases from Heathrow are offset by reductions elsewhere in the economy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airlines to make billions from CO2 trade |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article2980672.ece |date=2007-12-01 |work=[[The Times]] |author=Ben Webster}}</ref>
The [[World Development Movement]] has claimed that the proposed additional flights from Heathrow’s third runway would emit the same amount of CO2 per year as the whole of [[Kenya]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wdm.org.uk/news/flightsfromheathrow21112007.htm |title=Flights from Heathrow’s third runway will emit same amount of CO2 as Kenya |accessdate=2008-01-12 |date=2007-11-21 |publisher=[[World Development Movement]]}}</ref> However, the then-Transport Secretary [[Ruth Kelly]] stated that [[carbon emission]]s will not actually rise overall in the environment since [[Emissions trading|carbon trading]] will be used to ensure that these increases from Heathrow are offset by reductions elsewhere in the economy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airlines to make billions from CO2 trade |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article2980672.ece |date=2007-12-01 |work=[[The Times]] |author=Ben Webster}}</ref>


=== Community destruction ===
=== Community destruction ===

Revision as of 18:56, 21 September 2009

For information about the airport at present and in the past, see London Heathrow Airport.

BAA Limited have proposed a plan for expansion of London Heathrow Airport by building a new runway and a sixth terminal. The plan is supported by both business and airline interests and the UK government, however many groups and prominent individuals are opposed to the expansion.

Background

The major businesses operating at Heathrow, in particular British Airways and the airport operator BAA, have long advocated construction of a new third runway at Heathrow, together with a sixth terminal. These would increase the capacity of Heathrow by 50%.

On 16 December 2003 Transport Secretary Alistair Darling released a white paper[1] on the future of air transport in the UK. A key proposal of the paper was that a new 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) runway suitable for use only by short-haul aircraft would be built at Heathrow by 2020[2] provided that targets on aircraft noise, public transport and pollution could be met. In December 2006 the DFT published a progress report on the strategy which confirmed the original vision.[3][4]

In November 2007 the government started a public consultation on its proposal for a slightly longer third runway (2,000 metres (2,187 yd)) and a new passenger terminal.[5]

Current plans for expansion

In January 2009 the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that the UK government support the expansion of Heathrow by building a third runway (2200m) and sixth terminal building. The government will not themselves undertake construction, but encourage the airport operator (BAA) to apply for planning permission and carry out the work. The government anticipate that the new runway will be operational in 2015 or soon after.[6][7]

The outline of the third runway can be seen on this map published by BAA and annotated by Hillingdon Borough Council, and also on a Google overlay map.

The government have declared that at present they do not intend that the third runway should be used at full capacity when it is first opened. Initially the extra flights should be limited to 125,000 a year until 2020, rather than the 222,000 at full capacity.[7]

A new station Heathrow Hub railway station has been proposed to provide better high-speed domestic rail links. Thomas Cook Airlines have also expressed a keen interest in transferring their services from London Gatwick and Stansted to Heathrow Terminal 6.[citation needed]

Arguments in favour of expansion

Economic growth through connectivity

The principal argument stated in favour of expanding Heathrow is to enhance the economic growth of the UK. As the UK's major hub airport, Heathrow is able to attract many transfer passengers and so is able to support a very wide range of direct flight destinations at high frequencies.[7] The government claims that Heathrow's connectivity helps London and the South East compete with other European cities for business investment, which in turn produces economic benefits for the rest of the UK.[1] Should Heathrow's connectivity decline compared to London's European competitors, the UK would fall behind.[6]

The government's argument is that Heathrow is on the brink of suffering a decline in connectivity. Heathrow’s runways are now operating at around 99% capacity, which increases delays when flights are disrupted, and risks competing European airports gaining destinations at Heathrow's expense.[6] The government estimates that building a third runway would allow Heathrow to increase its connectivity, bringing £5.5bn of economic benefits over 2020-2080.[7]

Despite the fall in passenger numbers caused by the global recession, supporters of expansion argue that demand will increase again when the recession ends.

Some of the capacity added to Heathrow by the addition of a third runway could be used to re-instate or improve flight connections to UK cities. Several cities have seen their connections to Heathrow reduced or lost over recent years as airlines have reallocated the airport's limited capacity to more profitable long-haul flights.[8][9]

Subsidiary arguments

  • Reduced emissions through resilience. A third runway would increase Heathrow's resilience to disruption, and so reduce emissions from aircraft waiting to land.[6]
  • Job creation. Construction would provide up to 60,000 jobs. Operating the expanded Heathrow would create up to 8,000 new jobs at Heathrow by 2030, with multiplier benefits to west London.[6]

Arguments against expansion

Greenhouse gas emissions

Environmental campaigners are concerned that the increased CO2 emissions caused by the additional flights will contribute to global warming.[10] They argue that the claimed economic benefits will be more than wiped out by the cost of the CO2 emissions. The government estimates that construction of a third runway will generate an additional 210.8 Mt CO2, but only costs this at £13.33 per ton of CO2 (2006 prices), so that the cost over 2020-2080 is only £2.8bn.[11] This is a small fraction of the government's own official estimate of the cost of carbon, which rises from £32.90 in 2020 to £108.20 in 2080 (in 2007 prices).[12] If these figures are used, the carbon cost of the third runway alone rises to £13.3bn (2006 prices), enough to wipe out the economic benefits.[13]

The World Development Movement has claimed that the proposed additional flights from Heathrow’s third runway would emit the same amount of CO2 per year as the whole of Kenya.[14] However, the then-Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly stated that carbon emissions will not actually rise overall in the environment since carbon trading will be used to ensure that these increases from Heathrow are offset by reductions elsewhere in the economy.[15]

Community destruction

Some 700 homes, a church and eight grade II listed buildings would have to be demolished or abandoned, the high street in Harmondsworth split, a graveyard "bulldozed" and the "entire village of Sipson could disappear".[16] John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington has suggested that up to 4,000 houses would actually have to be demolished or abandoned, however aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick defended the plans, saying anyone evicted from their home as a result of expansion would be fully compensated[17] and BAA have committed to preserving the Grade I listed church and tithe barn at Harmondsworth, and have assured protection of the value of properties blighted by a possible third runway.[18]

Noise and air pollution

Building a third runway at Heathrow will expose hundreds of thousands of residents in certain parts of N.W. and N.London to sustained high levels of aircraft noise for the first time.[19]

Subsidiary arguments

  • There are alternatives. There are alternatives to a third runway that maintain London's connectivity (see below).
  • Air travel is falling. Fewer people flew in 2008 than in 2007, both at Heathrow (-1.4%) and across BAA airports (-2.8%). The number of flights at Heathrow fell in 2008 in response to weakening demand.[20]
  • Reduced emissions through resilience are minimal. Reductions in emissions caused by fewer aircraft delays are tiny compared to the increased emissions from the additional flights for which the runway is to be built.
  • Job creation claims are invalid. If the money supporting the new jobs generated by a third runway was not spent at an expanded Heathrow, it would be spent elsewhere in the economy.[21]

Participants in the debate

The UK Labour government is taking the lead in driving forward the expansion of Heathrow. The particular members of the government most closely associated with that drive are the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) and Transport Secretaries past (Alistair Darling, Ruth Kelly) and present (Geoff Hoon). Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, has also voiced his support for the scheme, which happened to lead him to having green custard thrown over his head by a protestor.

The government's stance is broadly supported by a number of groups and prominent individuals:

There are many groups and prominent individuals who are opposed to expansion:

Attempts to halt expansion

Various methods have been proposed and adopted in attempt to halt expansion:

  • General election. Current plans for expansion would not allow construction to begin until after the next general election. Opposition parties (Conservatives, Lib Dems) claim that they would cancel expansion if elected.
  • Legal action. Hounslow Council are examining the possibility of legal action to prevent expansion, with the support of other London councils and the mayor (Boris Johnson).[30] In January 2009 Greenpeace and partners (including actress Emma Thompson and impressionist Alistair McGowan) bought a piece of land on the site of the proposed third runway called Airplot[31][32] Their aim is to maximise the opportunities to put legal obstacles in the way of expansion. Although this action is similar to the tactics first employed in the early 1980s by FoE with the 'Alice's Meadow' campaign; it differs in that it relies on the concept of multiple beneficial ownership rather than the division of the field into microplots. The field was bought for an undisclosed sum from a local land owner.[33]
  • Direct action. A protest camp, the Camp for Climate Action, took place close to the airport in August 2007 and attracted some 2,000 protesters,[34] along with considerable media attention.[35]

Alternatives to expansion

Thames estuary airport

Main article: Thames estuary airport

Since the 1970s, there have been various proposals to complement or replace Heathrow by a new airport located in the Thames Estuary. This would have the advantage of avoiding flights taking off and landing over London, with all the accompanying noise and pollution,[36] and would also avoid destroying residential areas in west London to expand Heathrow.[37] In November 2008 the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced a feasibility study into an airport on an artificial offshore island off the Isle of Sheppey.[38]

Critics point variously to the construction costs,[1] the economic impacts on west London,[39] and the likely increase in CO2 emissions through increasing airport capacity.[40]

High speed rail

Main article: High-speed rail in the United Kingdom

Building high speed rail links would reduce the need for short-haul flights, by encouraging passengers to complete their journey by train instead of plane. By pruning short-haul flights from Heathrow, the number of international flights could be expanded, and connectivity enhanced. The Conservatives propose to build a high-speed rail line to the north that would allow the cessation of 66,430 domestic flights per year, 30% of the capacity of the planned third runway.[41]

  • A high speed rail link from Heathrow to High Speed 1 (map) would connect to north-west Europe. This link was costed at £4.5bn in July 2008.[42]
  • A high speed rail link from Heathrow to the Midlands, North of England, and Scotland, would replace flights to domestic airports.

Reduce demand

An alternative way to relieve the pressure on Heathrow without building a third runway is to put in place policies to reduce demand for air travel. Various suggestions have been made:

  • Personal carbon trading has the potential to encourage individuals to voluntarily change their behaviour and reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.[43]
  • Eliminate hidden subsidies to flying by bringing the taxation of flying in line with other forms of transport. At present fuel is not taxed at all, and there is no VAT on air travel or new aircraft.[44]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "The Future of Air Transport" (pdf). 2003-12-01. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  2. ^ "Map showing proposed third runway outline".
  3. ^ "UK Government review backs London Heathrow and London [[Stansted]] airport strategy". Flight International. December 14, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite news}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  4. ^ "Air Transport White Paper Progress Report 2006". Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  5. ^ "Industry backs third Heathrow runway as consultation opens". Flight International. November 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Transport Secretary's statement to the House of Commons, 15th January 2009". Department of Transport. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  7. ^ a b c d "Britain's Transport Infrastructure: Adding Capacity at Heathrow: Decisions Following Consultation, January 2009" (PDF). Department of Transport. Retrieved 2009-01-16. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 66 (help)
  8. ^ "Heathrow expansion is not just a flight of fancy for Scottish businesses". The Scotsman. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2009-02-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "New runway could restore air link". BBC News. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2009-02-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Campaign to stop Heathrow expansion takes to the roads". The Telegraph. 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  11. ^ "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Impact Assessment" (PDF). Department for Transport. January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  12. ^ "How to use the Shadow Price of Carbon in policy appraisal" (PDF). DEFRA. December 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  13. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/16/heathrow-third-runway
  14. ^ "Flights from Heathrow's third runway will emit same amount of CO2 as Kenya". World Development Movement. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  15. ^ Ben Webster (2007-12-01). "Airlines to make billions from CO2 trade". The Times.
  16. ^ "Village faces being wiped off map". BBC News. 2006-02-21. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  17. ^ "Public 'misled' on number of homes lost for Heathrow". This Is London. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  18. ^ "A third runway".
  19. ^ "Third runway noise will hit North London". This Is London. 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  20. ^ "December traffic figures BAA's airports". BAA Limited. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  21. ^ "The economics of Heathrow expansion" (PDF). CE Delft. February 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  22. ^ http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/6798219244603486884/bcc-reaction-to-heathrow-third-runway-decision.html
  23. ^ http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/d571d074e1e44b358025753f003f67c9?OpenDocument
  24. ^ http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-15849-f0.cfm
  25. ^ http://www.airport-int.com/news/2008/06/17/third-heathrow-runway-not-needed-david-cameron
  26. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7830937.stm
  27. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuxG7V25NRA
  28. ^ http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=16683
  29. ^ http://www.christianaid.org.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/Index/third-Heathrow-runway-massive-step-backwards.aspx
  30. ^ http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news_mod_home/news_mod_year/news_mod_month/news_mod_show?year1=2009&month1=1&NewsID=36138
  31. ^ http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/join-plot-stop-airport-expansion-20090112
  32. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7825169.stm
  33. ^ http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/article.aspx?cp-documentid=12726578&icid=toptodayuk
  34. ^ "Eco-village with a stark warning". BBC News. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  35. ^ "Google News: Search for "Climate Camp" "Heathrow" in 2007". Google News.
  36. ^ Halcrow Group Ltd. (2003). "Development of Airport Capacity in the Thames Estuary" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-01-17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  37. ^ Malthouse, Kit (2007-11-23). "Problem: Heathrow's in the wrong place". The Times. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  38. ^ Mayor of London (11 November 2008). "International engineer to advise Mayor on Thames Airport feasibility". Mayor of London. Retrieved 2009-01-17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  39. ^ Barber, Brendan (14 January 2009). "What about jobs at Heathrow?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  40. ^ Eastern Green Party (27 November 2008). "Green Party backs RSPB call to scrap suggestion of Thames Estuary airport". Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  41. ^ "Theresa Villiers: Serious about Going Green". Conservative Party. September 29th 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "£4.5bn proposal for High-Speed Rail extension". Arup. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  43. ^ House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (13 May 2008). "Environmental Audit: Fifth Report". Retrieved 2009-01-17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  44. ^ Campaign for Better Transport (3 January 2008). "Letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

51°29′18″N 0°27′34″W / 51.48833°N 0.45944°W / 51.48833; -0.45944

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Expansion_of_Heathrow_Airport&oldid=315343776"