Heathrow bosses look to create green cycle loop around extended Airport

It's been revealed in the Evening Standard that airport bosses are proposing to create a 12-mile “green loop” around an expanded Heathrow Airport.

The "green loop", which is part of the proposed £14bn expansion of Heathrow Airport, would see cycleways, footpaths and wildlife reserves around the perimeter in an effort to curtail criticism that the third runway will eat up hundreds of acres of land. 

The project is said to be designed to encourage walking and cycling to and from the airport. If approved, it will allow pedestrians to cross roads with greater ease.  

The proposed third runway at Heathrow is scheduled to be completed by 2026. The project will see the loss of over 2,200 acres of open land, including more than 1,000 acres of greenbelt. 

A worrying proposal for motorists wishing to drive to the airport could see an ultra low-emission zone blanketing the airport in an attempt to discourage drivers from driving to the terminals.

The proposals, which were revealed today would see a realignment of the M25 so that it passes under the runway via a new tunnel.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye expects planning consent to be granted in 2021. 

He said: "Winning permission would allow the airport to remove the current cap on aircraft movements, adding around 25,000 take-offs and landings a year to a total of about 505,000.” However, a spokesperson for IAG, owner of British Airways, said: “Heathrow has no idea how to manage costs. It’s already the most expensive airport in the world. We will certainly not pay for it if it does not keep charges to our customers flat.”

If plans are approved, work is expected to begin in 2022. Image Source: Geograph

Image Author Thomas Nugent