TODAY (Thursday 18 June 2026), the government has published a draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement, to replace the previous Airports National Policy Statement.
This aims to provide the framework against which Heathrow Airport’s plans will be judged and will now be subject to a process of public consultation until Tuesday 01 September 2026.
Commenting on the publication, Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, said:
“A global Britain requires connectivity to both established and emerging markets across the globe and thus needs both world-class, competitive hub and point-to-point capacity.
“This is vital to drive inward investment, develop new trading opportunities, bring tourists to the UK, and create jobs and economic growth in all our regions.
“Airports across the country will be interested in what the framework being proposed in the draft Heathrow Expansion NPS says about this, and how policy will support delivery of new capacity that can be used to increase connectivity.
“We will work with our members and with ministers to ensure it provides the right conditions to ensure the country can deliver in a timely and sustainable fashion, the capacity and connectivity it requires in the future, linking our communities and businesses with domestic and international markets.”
–ENDS–
