Government launches ‘Strategic Vision’ for transport to an expanded Heathrow Airport

‘Without action, expansion will likely increase congestion on existing route and have negative environmental impacts’

LB Hounslow has some of the busiest roads in London – 1,040 million vehicle miles were travelled on roads in Hounslow in 2025, compared with 301 million vehicle miles in neighbouring Hammersmith & Fulham and 807 million in Ealing, according to data from the Department for Transport.

It comes with the territory of being an outer London borough, where traffic volumes are higher, but as well as having the M4, A4 and A316 passing through it, Hounslow has the particular distinction of its proximity to Heathrow.

In its Strategic Vision for Transport to an Expanded Heathrow Airport, published last month, the Department for Transport is quite clear the expansion of Heathrow airport ‘will impact local and national transport networks, both during construction and once operational’ and that:

‘Without action, expansion will likely increase congestion on existing route and have negative environmental impacts such as increased noise and emissions’.

Heathrow runway

Persuading people to travel by public transport

The strategy makes the case for: ‘Reliable, affordable, accessible, and sustainable surface transport access to Heathrow Airport’ to ensure ‘the resulting increased demand for surface transport does not place undue pressure on surrounding communities or infrastructure’.

Currently Heathrow handles approximately 85 million passengers each year, fewer than half of whom travel to and from the airport by public transport.

In 2022 the airport set itself the target of increasing the percentage of people using public transport to 45% by 2026 from a baseline of 40% in 2019.

Department of Transport figures for 2023, published in December 2024, put the percentage at 41%, which the figure often quoted in discussions, though Heathrow’s own survey from 2024, which uses different datasets and methodologies to the DfT, maintains it has achieved its target, claiming the percentage of people who travel by public transport is now 45.2%.

The introduction of the Elizabeth Line has made a big difference, it says – 45% passengers now travel by Tube, the Elizabeth Line, bus or coach, while 55% travel by private car, taxi or private hire vehicle.

New target of ‘at least’ 50% passengers travelling by public transport

The government has now set a target of ‘at least’ 50% when annual terminal passenger capacity is 116m or more, and 55% when annual terminal passenger capacity is 130m or more.

It is estimated that Heathrow expansion will increase passengers to 150 million passengers per annum (mppa) by the mid-2050s with phased capacity increases.

‘There is a pressing need for an ambitious approach’, the Department for Transport tells would-be developers, ‘given the increased demand for transport to Heathrow that expansion will bring on an already busy part of the network’.

‘Promoters should consider when increases in passenger volumes at the airport are planned and ensure that sufficient surface access infrastructure is in place for these increases, in line with the passenger mode share target’.

It warns the transport network around the site needs to take into account the needs both of airport users and the wider community:

‘Transport infrastructure capacity should not be absorbed by airport users solely and should take future community requirements into account to support this growth’.

Debates about increasing use of public transport “irrelevant” say Bedford Park Society

The Bedford Park Society opposes the expansion of Heathrow.

David Blackburn, Chair of the Society’s Infrastructure & Environment Committee, told The Chiswick Calendar:

“Debates about increasing use of public transport to new targets are irrelevant.

“The sheer volume of additional passengers at an enlarged Heathrow would inevitably exacerbate the pollution issues for all of us in Chiswick with much worse transport congestion affecting both road and public transport users. We advise everyone to express their views about the proposed 3rd Runway.”

Disincentives for private drivers

The Department for Transport’s strategy talks about incentives for using public transport as well as infrastructure changes, and suggests disincentives for private drivers, including: ‘increased Terminal Drop off Charges or a fee to access Heathrow-owned roads’.

It concludes that failure to meet the new targets: ‘could result in unacceptable levels of road congestion, negatively affecting airport users, staff and local communities, alongside adverse environmental impacts.

The Government has just launched the public consultation on the framework for future planning decisions about Heathrow, which will run for over ten weeks, until 1 September 2026.

READ ALSO: Heathrow consultation opens

How to take part in the consultation

The public is invited to take part in the consultation online or by emailing: henpsconsultation@dft.gov.uk.

Or by writing to:

Great Minster House33 Horseferry RoadLondon,SW1P 4DR

Read the full Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement here: Heathrow expansion consultation