Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Airports National Policy Statement unfit for purpose, lacking integrated environmental limits
Recommendation
The Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) is not fit for purpose and requires updating to reflect Government policy. The ANPS specifically fails to: • Provide an integrated view on the role of the aviation and airport system across the country as a whole, • Provide information on environmental limits including air pollution limits, noise limits and greenhouse gas emissions, • Set out how cumulative impacts from all current UK airports and future airport expansion should be accounted for in the planning process. This leads to environmental risks and leaves future expansion applications open to legal challenges, slowing progress of any airport expansion. (Conclusion, Paragraph 68)
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 12 January 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗