Heathrow: Plans for Third Runway Defeated by Campaigners in Court of Appeal

Heathrow Airport’s plans to build a third runway have been left in tatters after opponents won a legal appeal against it on environmental grounds.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Hillingdon Council and environmental groups.

They argued that key factors such as air quality, noise pollution and traffic congestion were ignored by transport secretary, Chris Grayling – after he approved the plans in 2018.

The plans for expansion are up in the air as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was openly critical of the project prior to taking office. Therefore, it is expected that there will be no effort to appeal the ruling from the government.

Johnson even vowed to lie down in front of bulldozers in order to hault the work in west London.

The plans were initially introduced by a Labour government back in 2003. It has been mired by political indecision and local opposition ever since.