To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of 28 October 2019, Official Report column 83, whether it is the Government's policy that the expansion programme at Heathrow will be required to comply with new requirements on greenhouse gas emissions reductions introduced by the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019; and what plans the Government has to undertake a review of the airports National Planning Statement to assess compatibility of Heathrow expansion with new (a) air pollution and (b) climate targets.
Answered on
4 November 2019
It is the Government’s policy, via the Airports National Policy Statement, that any applicant for development consent for a Northwest runway at Heathrow Airport will have to comply with the new requirements on greenhouse gas emissions reductions introduced by the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019. The Airports National Policy Statement is clear that an applicant will need to demonstrate that any increase in carbon emissions from the scheme will have no material impact on the ability of the Government to meet the carbon targets in force at the date that that application is determined.
We have received several requests for review of the Airports National Policy Statement which raise the matters of air quality and climate change, and the Secretary of State will consider carefully whether it is appropriate to review the Airports National Policy Statement in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008.