Plans to expand Heathrow and build a third runway have been in the works for decades. However, they took a big step forward at the end of January 2025. As part of their push to “get Britain building”, The Government said it would support the expansion. We want to have a closer look at this here and the impact on the area. Then, if you want services like block management in Hillingdon, you can rely on us.
Plans
It has been an interesting journey to this point. There was a vote the House of Commons in favour of the proposals to build a third runway at Heathrow in 2016. However, there was a campaign against the plan. Ultimately, the Court of Appeal said the decision to proceed was unlawful, so it could not go ahead.
The next big step in the project was in December 2020 when the UK Supreme Court lifted the ban. As a result, Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) could do a planning application. Covid brought another twist to the tale though, forcing the plans to stall. There were also concerns about passenger numbers and investment post-Covid in 2023.
With the Government now planning huge changes to ensure economic growth, there is big support for the Heathrow expansion. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said it would “unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports, and make the UK more open and connected”.
The Government is now inviting HAL to bring forward the expansion proposals by summer 2025. The company said they will aim to do this, and wants to secure planning permission before the end of the current Parliament (2029).
Response
There have been a number of notable responses to the announcement of Heathrow’s third runway. Some are positive, others are negative. Some could have an impact on investors. We’ll be happy to help with services like block management in Hillingdon.
On the positive side, Airlines UK, many business groups, and numerous sections of the travel industry were happy with the news. The expectation is it will see annual passenger numbers increase from 90 million to 140 million. It could have a huge impact on the economy.
There are concerns from some airlines and businesses regarding the fees HAL charges. The fear is they will increase the cost of things like landing and parking fees to help cover the cost of building the third runway. If that does happen, it could result in higher costs for customers.
Like with the original plans, a number of environmental groups are voicing their opposition to the expansion. They have concerns about the impact on the environment, including air pollution and climate change.
Interestingly, there seems to have been an immediate impact on residents in Hillingdon. According to data from Benham and Reeves, there was a surge in housing market activity in the weeks following the announcement. Homes being put on the market were up by 19% in just two weeks. The belief is a number of these properties are being put on the market as residents look to move to avoid the disruption of building a new runway, something that could last until 2040. They likely also want to avoid any potential dip in property prices.
Do you want help with block management in Hillingdon?
Finefair Ltd can provide many fantastic services for investors. We have experience with guaranteed rent, HMOs, leasing, and much more. You can also get property management for any kind of portfolio, including houses and flats. Whatever you need, we’ll do our best to provide it and ensure you get the best value for money.
So, if you have assets and want block management in Hillingdon or other services, please get in touch. It could be a really exciting future for the area, so investors should definitely keep an eye on the Heathrow plans, property prices, and demand levels.
