Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce has now submitted our consultation response on the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS). This follows an earlier (June) response to the Transport Select Committee call for evidence on the HENPS which can be viewed HERE (ref: HEN0008).
In our submission to Government (HMG), we outlined our support for the need for expansion of London Heathrow Airport and the designation of Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure. In setting out our support for the HENPS, we emphasised that HMG should:
- Recognise the compelling national case for Heathrow expansion and the economic, connectivity and employment benefits expansion will deliver across the UK.
- Support the draft HENPS as the appropriate planning policy framework for expansion.
- Support the timely designation of the HENPS to provide the policy certainty needed to unlock investment and maintain momentum behind expansion.
- Deliver on its own ambition, and guiding principles set out in the DfT’s policy paper Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport, from the outset to make public transport the first choice, minimise the impact on the road network and prioritise environmental sustainability (not wait for these to be triggered when certain thresholds are met).
- Fully commit to the integrated and timely delivery of the Western Rail Link to London Heathrow scheme, before the projected passenger numbers overwhelm the transport network and before construction impacts on the M25.
Read the full submission HERE
The Chamber would like to thank all those members who contributed to shaping our consultation response and inform our infrastructure policy work.,
