Heathrow Airport has said it will consider introducing a congestion charge if its plan for a third runway goes ahead.
The Airports Commission, which recommended Heathrow’s expansion last July, placed a number of conditions on the proposal, including consideration of a congestion charge.
In its response, the operator of Britain’s busiest airport said it would “incentivise a major shift in mode share for those working at and arriving at the airport through measures including new rail investments and a continuing focus on employee behaviour change and including the consideration of a congestion or emissions charge”.
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Other commitments from Heathrow in respsonse to the Commission’s conditions include:
- Agreeing to a ban on scheduled flights for six and a half hours between 2300 and 0530;
- Spending over £1bn on community compensation (noise and property);
- Providing training opportunities and apprenticeships for local people so that nearby communities benefit from jobs in constructing and operating the new infrastructure;
- Accepting a commitment from Government ruling out any fourth runway.
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye, in a letter to the prime minister, said: “You set up the Airports Commission and it unanimously recommended expanding Heathrow. You demanded ambitious plans from my team to deliver expansion with a bold and fair deal for our neighbours. Today, I am proud to submit a comprehensive plan that meets and exceeds your demands.”
However, Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “This is a desperate last throw from a project that has repeatedly failed. You can’t promise no more cars with a third runway and at the same time to propose to expand the M25 and plan to spend millions on parking. Heathrow has constantly failed the environmental tests and the public and politicians won’t be fooled by yet more warm words which have been heard for decades.”
New mayor of London Sadiq Khan has previously expressed his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.
Transport for London (TfL) said last month that the Airports Commission had considerably underestimated the cost of transport infrastructure improvements required for a third Heathrow runway. The Commission put the cost at £5.7bn, whereas TfL estimated some £18bn of spending would be required.
