Judicial review into Heathrow expansion welcomed

Environmental charities such as Friends of the Earth as well as several local authorities and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had called for the High Court to rule on whether the Government’s decision to build a third runway was legal.

It was announced yesterday these challenges will proceed to a full judicial review in March 2019.

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, a group campaigning against the expansion on behalf of residents in Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead, said: “I am absolutely delighted, this provides another hurdle to the Government getting the third runway built.

“If the runway does not go ahead there would be rejoicing among residents because a big black cloud will have been lifted from their lives.”

If the runway goes ahead it would mean 700 more planes flying over homes in north and east London every day.

Mr Stewart hopes the judge will “keep an open mind” and take these issues seriously when deciding whether the third runway should go ahead.

He said: “There are planes going over people’s homes every 90 seconds and it’s making their lives so difficult.

“The impact of the noise is already bad enough. A third runway would make it worse.”

But even if the third runway is given the go-ahead, Mr Stewart says the concerns of people living in Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead should be taken into consideration.

Mr Stewart added: “It is absolutely essential that people from Heathrow come out to east and north London.

“If they don’t come out, people there will feel like they have not been listened to.”

Protestors gathered outside the court as the decision was made.

The Shadow Chancellor and MP for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell, was among them.

Mr McDonnell said: “A Government that prevents Heathrow going ahead will send a message that we are serious about climate change, serious about creating a zero-carbon economy and the development of our transport network will not be concentrated in one part of the country.”