Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
Publish detailed review findings on airport expansion before refreshed ANPS or new projects.
Recommendation
The results of this review should be published before or alongside the refreshed ANPS and before any further substantial airport expansion projects are underway. This is crucial to enable proper scrutiny. Failure to do so could put the Government and any airport expansion projects at risk of legal challenge which would increase costs, delays and introduce greater uncertainty. (Recommendation, Paragraph 116) 48
Government Response Summary
The government committed that any amendments to the ANPS and its associated assessments, reflecting the review's findings, will be subject to consultation by summer 2026 as part of the parliamentary scrutiny process.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
As set out in response to recommendation 13, the ANPS review will consider relevant changes that have taken place since 2018, including those relating to climate and environmental targets. Any amendments to the ANPS and associated assessments will be subject to consultation by summer 2026 under the parliamentary scrutiny process requirements set out under the Planning Act 2008. The ANPS provides the primary basis for decision making on applications for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, but it does not provide the development consent the project would require in order to proceed. Following the completion of the ANPS review, any applicant will need to submit a DCO application demonstrating that its proposal can meet the requirements of the ANPS and other relevant legislation.