With the Prime Minister confirming this week she will trigger Article 50 negotiations on 29 March, MPs have reaffirmed their commitment to Heathrow expansion, viewing the plans more important to long-term economic prosperity than a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point and the HS2 rail link. 

In new polling by ComRes released this week, Parliamentary support for expanding Heathrow reached a record high, with 77% of MPs now backing the project.

Heathrow claims expansion will make Britain the best-connected country in the world, create up to 180,000 new skilled jobs and boost growth by up to £211 billion across the country.

The polling reveals a rare show of Parliamentary unity behind the Government’s decision to back an expanded Heathrow.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “The UK has a unique opportunity to reshape its place in the world and an expanded Heathrow is our trump card. By making our nation’s hub bigger and better, we’ll secure a prosperous future for Britain. MPs are clear – Heathrow expansion is the right choice for Britain – and we’re getting on with delivering it.”

Later this year and in addition to the Government’s National Policy Statement consultation, Heathrow will launch its own Phase 1 consultation to gather feedback from stakeholders on options for the Northwest Runway Scheme. The feedback will inform the next phase of design for the scheme which will then be further refined following a Phase 2 consultation in 2018. A final proposal is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as part of an application for a Development Consent Order in the summer of 2019.