Four councils prepare for legal challenge if Heathrow expansion approved

Solicitors acting on behalf of Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead councils have warned the prime minister that he can expect court action unless a third Heathrow runway is ruled out.

Harrison Grant Solicitors, which led the councils’ successful 2010 High Court challenge against Heathrow expansion, has now written to Mr Cameron setting out why they believe he cannot lawfully say yes to a third runway

The legal letter cites “insurmountable environmental problems” which would make a Government decision to support Heathrow expansion “irrational or otherwise unlawful”.

It tells Mr Cameron that the recommendations of the Airports Commission, which favoured building a third runway, “were based on a flawed assessment of the impacts on air quality and noise”.

According to Harrison Grant, the commission’s conclusions on air quality “were based upon an error of law” and proposals for reducing noise impacts rely on “mitigation measures which were speculative and have been wholly rejected by the industry as unworkable.”

Heathrow expansion could result in 200,000 extra aircraft over London and the Home Counties each year.

Using the World Health Organisation’s noise impact measure, 766,100 people live within Heathrow’s existing noise footprint. That’s the highest in Europe and more than three times higher than second place Frankfurt Airport with 239,000.

Local resident-led campaign group, Stop Heathrow Expansion welcomed the letter. Robert Barnstone, Campaign Co-ordinator said: “We welcome this timely letter to David Cameron. It serves as an important reminder that he must not break his pledge that a third runway will not go ahead, “no ifs or buts”.

The Harrison Grant letter reads: “A decision to favour Heathrow is unlawful because it would frustrate the legitimate expectations of the residents of the Boroughs, arising from years of clear and repeated promises by the Government that it had ruled out a third runway at Heathrow: “no ifs, no buts.” ….

… “In the absence of rational grounds for thwarting and frustrating the prior representations and promises, there is an abuse of power correctable by the courts.”

Harrison Grant remind Mr Cameron of the High Court’s ruling in 2010 which overturned the then Government’s third Heathrow runway approval. They point out that the scheme now being considered is more damaging than the previous plan, specifically:

• “The runway is longer by 1,300m and suitable for use by all aircraft (the 2010 proposal was not suitable for the largest 4 engine wide body aircraft.);
• The number of ATMs [air traffic movements] predicted is higher by some 38,000;
• The land-take proposed is more extensive and more people are predicted to be affected by noise.”

The letters also highlights that “to date, the Government’s approach to consultation has been selective, inadequate and incomplete.” And that full and thorough consultation is a legal requirement which has to be met before a national policy statement on aviation is made.

Cllr Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said, “It’s 2010 all over again with councils lining up against the same disastrous Heathrow plan. What’s different this time is that air pollution law is now even stricter and Heathrow’s proposed runway is longer, noisier and would destroy more homes. There is no point going through this all again. A third runway at Heathrow can’t happen.”


March 4, 2016