Heathrow: 5 issues third runway consultation must tackle

Last week saw the launch of a four-month government consultation on Heathrow’s proposals for a third runway.

As the industry awaits the results, here are my top five issues the public consultation must address.

Lessons learned

This consultation must challenge the bold statistics and pledges promised. The numbers are so huge and mind-numbing, it’s difficult to compare proportionally to most construction projects.

There is a lot of expectation riding on the success of this scheme, and so lessons must be learned from the cost increases of other large infrastructure initiatives such as High Speed 2.

Failure to do this means any small percentage changes could lead to overspend in the millions, construction overrunning by years, or the failure to meet the pledge in providing thousands of new jobs.

This consultation is crucial to ensure commitment at each stage of the scheme can meet all the economic and environmental targets pledged by Heathrow.

Sensitive issues need to be tackled

It has been predicted that the new runway will be worth £61bn to the economy over 60 years and will create tens of thousands of jobs.

But we should be cautious and ensure sufficient time is taken to review the sensitive issues during this consultation period. With any development that necessitates the relocation of homes and businesses, resulting in huge consequences for people’s lives, the process must include time for listening to the communities affected.

Success must be measured

Heathrow’s statement to deliver for the environment and the economy without placing one ahead of the other is laudable, but how will success be measured? Clear objectives must be set and shared.

By example, in 2015 Heathrow confirmed it will invest £700m in a noise insulation programme; however, this has now been downgraded to £250m, and the commitment to remove 300,000 people from the noise footprint is now 200,000. What criteria changed to determine this reduction?

Impact on the environment

Environmental investment to address noise reduction, noise insulation, air quality and carbon use needs to be protected as promised. The consultation will clarify the commitment to environmental investment – including carbon offset.

Getting the construction right is vital to achieving environmentally low or zero carbon impact. By using proven technology and applying recognised standards such as Passivhaus and BREEAM Outstanding, we know that environmental excellence can be achieved.

As part of the consultation, we need to see a commitment to construction proposals that deliver zero or negative-carbon buildings when measured in use. This will further assist Heathrow in delivering its part in contributing to UK climate change targets.

Re-establishing our position on the world stage

This opportunity allows us to go to the next step to demonstrate globally how Heathrow can lead the world in sensitive environmental airport expansion of which we can all be proud.

We must use the investment here to set new infrastructure construction standards while promoting the UK on the world stage amid Brexit.

Article originally published by Construction News

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