Heathrow Airport Expansion Plans - August 2025

Specialist compulsory purchase solicitor, Catherine Hibbert, discusses the plans for the expansion of Heathrow Airport, and how this could affect existing landowners.

An announcement from Heathrow Airport Limited on 1 August 2025 confirmed that it has now submitted to Government a proposal to expand Heathrow Airport by the addition of;

• A third runway up to 3,500m in length
• Increased annual capacity to serve up to 756,000 flights and 150m passengers
• A brand new Terminal 5X, an expanded Terminal 2 and three new satellite terminals

The £49b investment, involving the tunnelling of a section of the M25 under the new runway, could - they say - be delivered within as little as 10 years.

Development Consent for this Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project will need to be secured to authorise the proposal. Once the formal application for development consent has been accepted, details about the scheme will be made publicly available and a timetable will be set for a public examination which will consider the arguments and evidence for and against the proposal. Interested parties, including those with land affected by the proposals, will have the opportunity to participate in this process.

The expansion proposals will affect land and communities to the north and west of Heathrow. The proposed Scheme details will specify those land parcels which are required in order to deliver the expansion plans and confirm details of any proposed compulsory acquisition powers.

In the meantime, qualifying landowners who find themselves unable to sell their homes except at a significant undervalue in consequence of the expansion proposals may qualify for relief under statutory blight processes or the Airport’s own discretionary purchase scheme (The Interim Property Hardship Scheme). Holmes & Hills Solicitors have advised a number of landowners in relation to the availability of these schemes and supported them with the application process.

If you own property which is likely to be affected by this  Scheme, please do not hesitate to make contact with one of our dedicated compulsory purchase and development consent order solicitors for further advice as to your next steps.