Heathrow third runway likely to harm health of millions nearby, official report warns

Construction of a third runway at Heathrow is likely to have significant adverse effects on the health and wellbeing of up to 3 million people living nearby, an official report has said, as the government launched the next stage of its rapid airport expansion plan.

An analysis for the Department for Transport (DfT) has found that expanding London’s hub airport could have “major adverse” impacts on the health of the most local population.

Construction and operation of the third runway will worsen not just noise and air quality, but could also harm access to housing, education, healthcare, open space, and transport, the report by the consultants Aecom said.

Heathrow’s expansion will impact water quality, weaken community identity and cohesion, worsen landscapes and townscapes, and affect climate change mitigation and adaptation, it added.

The impact analysis of the new policy said construction of a third runway would probably be beneficial for jobs, income, education, skills and training, but concluded: “Adverse effects are considered likely with regard to the other determinants which cover environmental and social considerations, and many of these have potential to be significant.”

While the report is expected to help shape measures to mitigate the effect on residents, it says the impacts cannot be fully offset.

A DfT spokesperson said: “The health impact assessment describes what would happen if a third runway was built without any mitigations being put in place – mitigations we are actively working to implement.

“We know communities around Heathrow have legitimate concerns about expansion, which is why we are consulting on the policy underpinning a third runway – including preventing the worsening of noise emissions and reduction of air quality, and generating jobs for local people.”

The disclosure came in supporting documents as the government announced another milestone in expansion, the accelerated publication for consultation of a draft national policy statement backing the third runway.

The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “Today’s consultation is a positive step towards realising the benefits of a third runway, by giving businesses, communities and the public the chance to help shape this key project at one of the world’s most successful hub airports.

“We are determined to move quickly and responsibly to set a framework for future expansion at Heathrow that will meet the needs of local people and the country on the key issues of noise, air quality, climate change and economic growth.”

MPs will vote on whether to approve the policy, which is now known as the Heathrow Expansion national policy statement rather than covering airports nationwide.