The publication of the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement has marked a significant milestone in plans to unlock new capacity at the UK's hub airport.
Cllr. Steve Tuckwell, Leader of Hillingdon Council, has expressed disappointment at the timing of the consultation, which coincides with the summer holidays and last week's Makerfield by-election.
In a statement, he said: "This is one of the most significant issues facing our borough, affecting thousands of residents, businesses and community organisations. People are entitled to ask why such an important consultation was launched when political attention was focused elsewhere.
"For decades, residents in our Heathrow communities have had the Sword of Damocles hanging over them, with successive governments and the airport, repeatedly reviving pie-in-the-sky expansion plans that threaten homes, businesses and neighbourhoods.
"The timing and structure of this consultation risk creating the impression that the government is more interested in securing a particular outcome than listening to the communities most affected.
"Hillingdon remains firmly opposed to a third runway. We are carefully scrutinising the consultation documents and will respond robustly on behalf of our residents, businesses and local communities."
However, businesses, trade unions, and MP's have expressed support for Heathrow's expansion plan, including a joint statement from regional chambers of commerce, who believe that the expansion will be a catalyst for growth in the UK's regional economies.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has reaffirmed the government's support for the expansion, stating that it could support over 60,000 local jobs and deliver up to £42 billion in economic benefits.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye has welcomed the publication, citing the project's potential to drive economic growth and noting that the plan is privately funded and widely supported.
