Heathrow expansion

The Government is proposing the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway, and two different schemes have been put forward for consideration.

Our role

The construction of a third runway at Heathrow is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and therefore requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) to be granted.  The decision on whether to proceed will be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, advised by the Planning Inspectorate who will examine the proposals.

The two proposals

The Council is an interested party and cannot therefore run the engagement on the proposals.  It is not the decision maker, and its role is therefore to influence the proposals through constructive engagement through the DCO process with the applicant(s) to help secure the best possible outcomes – mitigation and compensation – for residents and communities. 

Find out more about the DCO process here: Welcome to Find a National Infrastructure Project

There are two promoters with plans for expansion of Heathrow Airport: Heathrow Airport Limited and Heathrow West Limited. 

Details of the two proposals and contact details for each promoter can be found below. 

Heathrow Airport Limited’s proposal 

Please note that a period of public consultation on Heathrow Airport Limited’s proposals is running between 27 October 2026 and 22 December 2026.

You can find details of upcoming consultation events here:

Upcoming consultation events | Heathrow

In person events most local to Spelthorne residents, communities and businesses are:

• 12 November 2026  2-7pm: Stanwell Moor – venue Stanwell Moore Village Hall TW19 6AQ
• 5 December 2026 10am –  3pm: Staines Community Centre TW18 4EA
• 12 December 2026 10am –  3pm: Stanwell Village Hall TW19 7JR

In addition, the following online events are being held:

• 9 November 2026 6.30-7.30pm: Consultation overview - Webinar Registration - Zoom
• 16 November 2026 6.30-7.30pm: Roads and surface access - Webinar Registration - Zoom
• 19 November 2026 12-1pm: Noise - Webinar Registration - Zoom
• 23 November 2026 6.30-7.30pm: Construction - Webinar Registration - Zoom
• 3 December 2026 12-1pm: Managing effects - Webinar Registration - Zoom
• 10 December 2026 12-1pm: Consultation overview - Webinar Registration - Zoom

Heathrow West’s proposal 

National Policy update

National Policy Statements make clear the Government’s objectives for the development of nationally significant infrastructure. A draft to update the Airports National Policy Statement of 2018 was subject to consultation over the summer.  Renamed the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement, the Council’s response to the consultation can be found here:

Link to response to HENPS

Previous consultations

The plans for the expansion of Heathrow Airport have been ongoing over a number of years.  You can find out more about previous consultations, and the Council’s response to them here:

Heathrow Expansion Consultations and Responses | Spelthorne Borough Council

Heathrow consultation January 2019 | Spelthorne Borough Council

Airspace and future operations consultation | Spelthorne Borough Council

Report aircraft noise

Heathrow Airport offers a noise complaints service. You can find out more here: Report aircraft noise | Spelthorne Borough Council