Heathrow Airport third runway: Harmondsworth village to be bulldozed for expansion 'filled with horror'
When residents of an idyllic village in West London bought their homes decades ago, they did not expect that they would be forced to uproot and sell their homes in their retirement.
However, for residents of Harmondsworth, minutes away from Heathrow Airport, the ‘terror’ of having to pack up and sell is becoming a sobering reality following the government backing of a controversial third runway which would likely flatten the village.
Rachel Reeves announced at a speech in Oxfordshire on Wednesday (January 29) plans to support expansion of Heathrow Airport. She said: “A third runway is badly needed… a third runway at Heathrow would unlock growth and boost investment… now the case is stronger than ever.”
Despite promises the expansion would boost economic growth and create jobs, local residents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that they do not want to move in their seventies. Some said they feel ‘blindsided’ by the government, because this wasn’t mentioned at the general election.
‘It fills me with horror’
Eilish Stone, 74, is a veteran campaigner on the issue of a third runway. Under the coalition government, Eilish took her protests, alongside others, to 10 Downing Street. She told the LDRS she doesn’t want to see her village ‘destroyed’.
She said: “Where do I go? What value would I get for my home? It’s my community. I have classes I attend, community events, a choir. The thought of moving fills me with horror, at this age if you have to move away… it’s very difficult.”
If the expansion goes ahead, people like Eilish will be forced to sell their homes under a Compulsory Purchase Order. There would likely be additional compensation and relocation schemes, however these are not welcomed.
Eilish said: “People have worked hard throughout their lives to invest in their home and their village. We won’t get fair value because of the blight of the village caused by the third runway plans.
“I can’t tell you the stress I’ve been under. Even if it doesn’t happen, the blight of the village isn’t going to go away because people will just say it’ll happen in a few years.”
She added: “I have campaigned for years. I’ve lived here since 1987. Harmondsworth and Sipson are on the way to destruction, and I don’t want to see them destroyed.”
‘We are nothing, just cogs in their machine’
Ann Lucas, 66, has lived in Harmondsworth for 37 years. She says it was a beautiful village when she moved, and still is, but because of the third runway threat she has decided to sell up. However, she is struggling.
She told the LDRS: “They set these guidelines and conditions, but people can’t get a mortgage here – so we are struggling to sell. You have to put it on the market at a lower value because of the village blight, and if you don’t, estate agents won’t take you on.”
The ‘blight’ refers to the impact of third runway proposals on the villages surrounding Heathrow like Harmondsworth. The uncertainty of plans, government backed or not, plateau house values for those looking to sell.
Ann said: “We found it difficult to find an estate agent to take us on. Now, we are getting ridiculous offers that we couldn’t possibly sell for.”
She added: “It makes me feel really sad because we are nothing to them [the Government and Heathrow Airport]. We are just a cog in their machine.
“Labour has blindsided us all. Where did this come from? It wasn’t in their manifesto, it’s all so sudden.”
‘We might have to close down our family business’
The third runway wouldn’t only bulldoze peoples homes, but also local businesses. The village is home to two shops, two pubs, and other small family-owned companies.
Adam Lovejoy, 60, grew up in the village. His company, based on the village high street, manufacture irrigation systems. He fears he may have to close the business down, or relocate.
He said: “We’ve been here for decades, we’re a family business. We’d either have to close down or relocate, my business is stuffed. I feel blindsided but not surprised.”
He added: “At our age its a pain. Whether we bother to relocate, I don’t know. It could lead to a lot of our staff unemployed. We’ve loved it here, but the community is gone.”
‘I don’t want to move… but I have no choice’
Julian Moses, 76, has lived in Harmondsworth since 1981. He has better insight to the aviation industry than most due to his role as an Air Traffic Controller prior to his retirement.
Despite his connection to the industry, he shares the sentiment of other villagers, and notes that Rachel Reeves opposed an expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport on environmental grounds.
He said: “I don’t want to move, but I appreciate that I won’t get a choice. My point of view is it’s a little hypocritical to oppose airport expansion up north on environmental grounds but back it at Heathrow.
“I’m double blighted here. Not only am I right near Heathrow, but the house next door is an Airbnb, which only decreases the house value more.”
He told the LDRS that he pays ULEZ on his camper van, but plans for a third runway and thousands more flights exceed the environmental impact of his van. He said: “I have no idea what I’ll do. We were told we could move to houses of a similar standard and similar location, but where will you find a village like this in West London?”
He added: “I’d have to move outside the remit of the Greater London Authority. I’d lose out on the benefits that come with that. Hillingdon is the best place to live.”
‘Expansion must meet economic and environmental tests’
Despite the Chancellor’s announcement, no expansion will take place unless stringent economic, environmental, and noise tests are met, according to the Transport Minister Mike Kane.
On Tuesday (January 28), MPs from different parties raised concerns about the impact to the environment and residents nearby the airport. John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington asked the Transport Minister: “Has the department provided (Ms Reeves) with an assessment for example of where the 8,000 to 10,000 people in my constituency who have their homes demolished or rendered unliveable will live if the Heathrow expansion goes ahead?”
The Transport Minister Mike Kane said: “We have been clear that any airport expansion proposals would need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, are compatible with the UK’s legally binding climate-change commitments and meet strict environmental standards of air quality and noise pollution.”
At this stage, no new plans have been submitted to expand the airport. Rachel Reeves has given until summer 2025 for plans to be brought forward.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said once these have been received, the Department for Transport will review its Airports National Policy Statement NPS). She added that the NPS “provides the basis for decision making” on a Development Consent Order (DCO) application submitted by the airport.
The DCO process is expected to last around 18 months and will involve a public consultation on the expansion plan. The Planning Inspectorate will consider the application and make a recommendation to the Transport Secretary, who will decide whether to grant the DCO.
If the scheme is approved, there is a strong possibility that campaigners will launch judicial reviews of the minister’s decision. If legal challenges are not brought or are unsuccessful, Heathrow can begin construction. There is currently no timeline for when that will happen, but it is likely to be at least another decade before a new runway opens.