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Published:
13 July 2026
Hillingdon Council is calling on the government to provide sustained funding and meaningful engagement to protect its communities and council services from the impact of Heathrow expansion proposals.
A motion agreed at its Full Council meeting last Thursday (9 July) set out the council’s requirements as it continues to strongly oppose plans for a third runway and associated infrastructure due to the devastating and lasting impacts on the borough’s homes, businesses, facilities, local ecology and quality of life.
The council is urging government to:
- recognise the exceptional burden created by running two concurrent Heathrow expansion planning processes
- provide sustained, long-term funding to enable the council to protect residents without any detriment to council services
- guarantee full funding for the council to assess, challenge and report on the impacts of the proposals in line with established new burdens principles
- ensure that, if expansion proceeds, Hillingdon is fully resourced to secure the strongest protections and mitigation measures for residents, businesses and the environment
- commit to open, transparent and meaningful engagement with affected residents and communities throughout the decision-making process.
The council is also asking the Mayor of London to work in partnership with it, and resolves to continue working with neighbouring authorities, local communities and partner organisations to oppose the current Heathrow expansion proposals, while continuing to advocate for residents.
Cllr Tuckwell will now write to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Transport and the Mayor of London setting out the council’s position and seeking assurances that residents’ interests will be fully safeguarded.
Cllr Tuckwell said: “Our opposition to Heathrow expansion has never wavered. We have always stood with our residents, and we will do so again.
“We will hold decision makers to account. If the government chooses to pursue expansion plans in any form, it must also accept responsibility for ensuring that we have adequate resources, and should not, under any circumstances, expect our residents to shoulder the costs, through council tax or increased pressure on council services.”
He also raised serious concerns that the government is allowing two rival Heathrow expansion proposals to move forward at the same time, while also consulting on its Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS), which will consider whether expansion should be allowed to proceed.
He warned that this is creating prolonged uncertainty for local communities and could place exceptional pressure on the council’s planning, highways, environmental, legal and technical teams over several years as it responds to the proposals and works to protect residents.
He added: “The government’s current approach is causing increased anxiety and confusion for many thousands of people who are fearful of the future, so we want greater transparency and meaningful engagement from all parties involved, throughout every stage of the process.”
Residents are urged to have their say on the HENPS consultation by completing the survey, at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/heathrow-expansion before Tuesday 1 September.