Local councils take legal action against Heathrow Airport expansion

Five local councils notified the Theresa May's government that they are seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision to go through with the expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport, with the support of London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The local authority group comprises five councils affected by expansion: Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Richmond, Hillingdon and Windsor and Maidenhead.

The announcement came on Thursday, following parliament's approval in June of plans for a third runway at the airport. According to the government, the investment will boost economic growth but neighbours object since it will also increase noise, air pollution and contribute to climate change.

Khan argued that the plans failed to “demonstrate how it will fund the billions of pounds needed to improve road and rail connections to the airport.”

He also said that the plans would cause hundreds of thousands of people being blighted by intolerable noise levels and “worsening air quality in an area where pollution is already well above legal levels”.

If the councils fail, the construction could begin in 2021, with the third runway operational by 2026.