However, in a landmark judgment, the court of appeal ruled in favour of the case brought by the environmental litigation charity Plan B and Friends of the Earth. Should Heathrow win the case, it will delay construction by at least two years, blaming the move on the legal challenges and coronavirus pandemic. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) located in London, England, United Kingdom. Environmental pressure groups Friends of the Earth and Plan B Earth are opposing the challenge. Legal action by climate campaigners initially failed to force a judicial review. Tim Crosland, the director of Plan B, said the government could “at least see a problem in admitting it’s not taking the Paris agreement seriously, given that maintaining the Paris temperature limit is vital to our collective future … Heathrow Airport Limited, however, has no such concerns.”. The repercussions of this judgment will be felt well beyond the suburbs and villages surrounding Heathrow. Airport to argue in supreme court it is bound to comply with UK carbon reduction targets Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent Heathrow airport is operating from just one runway … He said: "Our decision should be properly understood. Business reporter "Airport expansion is core to boosting global connectivity," Mr Shapps tweeted. ", Echoing several of Mr Johnson's general election campaign slogans, Heathrow said a third runway was "essential to achieving the PM's vision of Global Britain', adding: "Let's get Heathrow done.". If Heathrow’s potential third runway goes ahead, construction won’t be completed until at least 2030, the airport has said. All rights reserved. "We will appeal to the Supreme Court on this one issue and are confident we will be successful," said a statement. In 2018, then Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling designated a document called the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which supports the development of a third runway at Heathrow. Will Rundle, head of legal at environmental campaign group Friends Of The Earth, was pleased with that prospect, saying climate change should now be "at the heart of all planning decisions". The Appeal Court justices have not just lifted the immediate threat of demolition from homes in the path of the third runway. Heathrow Airport began a Supreme Court appeal today (Wednesday) over the decision to block the build of a third runway. Britain’s government in 2018 gave the green light for Heathrow to expand, with building of the third runway given a 2022 start date. A two-day hearing starts on Wednesday which could allow Heathrow to proceed once more with building an additional runway. Any expansion of airports, wherever they are, will now be much harder to get off the ground. Heathrow third runway judgment 'bitterly disappointing', Heathrow third runway ruled illegal over climate change, Heathrow runway ruling prioritises planet over needs of UK plc, A third runway for Heathrow is no way to ‘level up’ Britain, Heathrow says third runway to be delayed by at least a year, Heathrow accuses BA of acting against UK and consumer interests, Fight against Heathrow expansion on verge of victory, says McDonnell, Heathrow expansion violates climate rights of children, say lawyers, approved in principle by parliament in 2018. The total cost of all three phases is £12.6bn, less than the estimated £37bn third runway proposal put forward by HAL. "Those matters are the government's responsibility and the government's alone," he said. But campaigners in February won a Court of Appeal case arguing that the government had failed to take into account its own climate change commitments. “Given the timescales required to deliver complex infrastructure of this scale in the UK, it’s critical that we get on with laying the groundwork today for future operations that will be essential for a successful global Britain in the decade after Brexit,” they added. The Unite union is balloting for a strike over plans by Heathrow to impose pay cuts of up to 20% on long-serving workers, which the airport has defended as a means to preserve jobs. Heathrow Airport: Govt won't appeal court decision to block third runway, Heathrow: Govt 'didn't consider Paris agreement', Heathrow wanted to complete its plans by 2029, Boris Johnson opposed the third runway while London mayor, Boris Johnson attends an anti-third runway campaign event before becoming PM, Climate activists block roads to Heathrow, A third runway at Heathrow was first mooted in 2003, Chris Grayling was criticised for not factoring air quality and traffic congestion in the plans, Heathrow Airport has witnessed several protests by environmental campaigners, Climate campaigners were delighted with the news.