Opponents of Heathrow Airport expansion have pledged to put forward “tough proposals” for mitigating the impact of a third runway in a consultation.
Members of the public are being invited to provide feedback on the west London hub’s planning options when the consultation launches on January 17.
Heathrow will publish proposals covering the design of new facilities, how construction work will be phased, the reconfiguration of the M25 and how airspace will be used by the additional flights.
John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group Hacan, said: “These will be very important consultations for local communities. They could impact the quality of people’s lives for generations to come.
“Hacan will be putting forward tough proposals to mitigate the impacts of a third runway should it be given the go-ahead.
“We will seize the chance to assist with the design of new flightpaths so that they give local people as much respite from the noise as possible.”
Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow’s executive director of expansion, said the public can “help shape our plans” to ensure the third runway “delivers for our passengers, businesses across Britain and, importantly, for our local communities”.
A separate Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on the draft Airports National Policy Statement – which sets out the Government’s support for Heathrow – closes on December 19.
The DfT says it is on track to publish final proposals for expansion in the first half of next year for a vote in Parliament.
If the scheme is approved, Heathrow will submit a planning application after consulting local communities on detailed proposals.
The airport hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the runway completed by the end of 2025.