Plans for a third runway at Heathrow moved a step closer this week after the Transport Secretary confirmed that Heathrow Airport Limited's (HAL) proposal will be used as the basis for reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), the framework that will guide the final planning decision.

The Government announced yesterday (25 November) that HAL's £49bn scheme has been chosen over a rival bid and will now shape the next stage of the policy process.

Ministers say the move could allow a Development Consent Order to be considered within this Parliament, bringing the long-debated expansion closer to a possible opening date of 2035.

The review of the ANPS will be completed more quickly than the last time the framework was produced, with public consultation expected next summer.

The Department for Transport emphasised that the update does not represent final approval for the project, and details such as the runway's exact length, layout and associated infrastructure will continue to be assessed.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the decision reflects Heathrow's national importance as the UK's only hub airport, describing expansion as a way to support jobs, improve connectivity and attract investment.

She said: "This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth."

The Government also stated that any expansion must meet legally binding climate commitments, with the Climate Change Committee being asked for advice on how aviation fits within future carbon budgets.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the decision was intended to "open the door to new growth and opportunity", claiming expansion could create more than 100,000 jobs.

Alongside the policy review, airspace modernisation is being prioritised to prepare for increased aircraft movements. A consultation has also opened on updating Air Navigation Guidance to streamline planning processes while maintaining public involvement.

Responding to the announcement, Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham, renewed her long-standing opposition to expansion.

She commented: "The fact is that the choice should not have come down to two rival bids. The choice should be for no third runway at all."

Ms Wilson said the move was "especially galling" following the COP30 climate summit, arguing that a third runway is incompatible with the UK's environmental commitments.

She added: "Heathrow is already the single largest polluter in the UK, and both the UK Climate Change Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee have said that a Heathrow third runway risks torpedoing the UK's climate goals."

"There are simply too many crucial questions around the cost to the environment – not to mention people's health and taxpayers' pockets – which is why I want to see the third runway taken off the table once and for all."

The Government insists the updated policy framework will balance environmental obligations with economic aims, and that any final plan will be subject to further consultation and parliamentary scrutiny in 2026.

READ MORE: Emergency gas works cause delays on Heath Road in Twickenham.

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