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| Hotel tycoon reveals Heathrow runway expansion proposal | Hotel tycoon reveals Heathrow runway expansion proposal |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Arora Group has proposed to build a 2,800-metre third runway instead of the full-length 3,500-metre runway | Arora Group has proposed to build a 2,800-metre third runway instead of the full-length 3,500-metre runway |
| Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora has announced he is submitting a Heathrow expansion plan which rivals a proposal from the airport's owners. | Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora has announced he is submitting a Heathrow expansion plan which rivals a proposal from the airport's owners. |
| The billionaire's Arora Group said the "primary benefit" of the plan it submitted to the government was a shorter new runway which would avoid the costly and disruptive need to divert the M25 motorway. | The billionaire's Arora Group said the "primary benefit" of the plan it submitted to the government was a shorter new runway which would avoid the costly and disruptive need to divert the M25 motorway. |
| Building a 2,800-metre third runway instead of the full-length 3,500-metre runway planned by the airport would result in "reduced risk" and avoid "spiralling cost", the company said. | Building a 2,800-metre third runway instead of the full-length 3,500-metre runway planned by the airport would result in "reduced risk" and avoid "spiralling cost", the company said. |
| The airport declined to comment on the Arora Group's proposal. | The airport declined to comment on the Arora Group's proposal. |
| The Arora Group said its proposal would not require the M25 to be diverted | The Arora Group said its proposal would not require the M25 to be diverted |
| A shorter runway could have limits on its use, although Arora Group insisted it would be able to accommodate aircraft of all sizes. | A shorter runway could have limits on its use, although Arora Group insisted it would be able to accommodate aircraft of all sizes. |
| The announcement means that for the first time, there will be two bids on the table to build a third runway at Heathrow. | The announcement means that for the first time, there will be two bids on the table to build a third runway at Heathrow. |
| Arora Group said its plan, called Heathrow West, could have a new runway fully operational by 2035, while a new terminal would open in two phases, in 2036 and 2040. | Arora Group said its plan, called Heathrow West, could have a new runway fully operational by 2035, while a new terminal would open in two phases, in 2036 and 2040. |
| The plan, developed with infrastructure company Bechtel, has a cost estimate of under £25 billion, not including the redevelopment of the airport's existing central area. | The plan, developed with infrastructure company Bechtel, has a cost estimate of under £25 billion, not including the redevelopment of the airport's existing central area. |
| Heathrow said in 2018 it could complete its runway for £14 billion, but it is now expected to cost billions more. | Heathrow said in 2018 it could complete its runway for £14 billion, but it is now expected to cost billions more. |
| In June, the government invited competing proposals for Heathrow's expansion and set a deadline of 31 July. | In June, the government invited competing proposals for Heathrow's expansion and set a deadline of 31 July. |
| Mr Arora, who is one of the largest landowners at Heathrow, said: "After a decade working with our world-leading design and delivery team, I am very proud that the Arora Group can finally unveil to the UK government our Heathrow West proposal. | Mr Arora, who is one of the largest landowners at Heathrow, said: "After a decade working with our world-leading design and delivery team, I am very proud that the Arora Group can finally unveil to the UK government our Heathrow West proposal. |
| "The Arora Group has a proven track record of delivering on-time and on-budget projects including in and around Heathrow airport. | "The Arora Group has a proven track record of delivering on-time and on-budget projects including in and around Heathrow airport. |
| "We are delighted that the government has taken a common-sense approach to invite proposals from all interested parties for the very first time rather than granting exclusivity to the current airport operator, no matter its track record." | "We are delighted that the government has taken a common-sense approach to invite proposals from all interested parties for the very first time rather than granting exclusivity to the current airport operator, no matter its track record." |
| Mr Arora has repeatedly accused the airport of wasting money. | Mr Arora has repeatedly accused the airport of wasting money. |
| Heathrow Airport proposed to expand the airport to the north-west | Heathrow Airport proposed to expand the airport to the north-west |
| Carlton Brown, CEO of Heathrow West, said the new company would be able to dedicate time and focus to the expansion while working with stakeholders including airlines, communities and business. | Carlton Brown, CEO of Heathrow West, said the new company would be able to dedicate time and focus to the expansion while working with stakeholders including airlines, communities and business. |
| "Ultimately, I want to see Heathrow help Britain become the best-connected nation in the world and facilitate the trade and inward investment our UK economy needs," he said. | "Ultimately, I want to see Heathrow help Britain become the best-connected nation in the world and facilitate the trade and inward investment our UK economy needs," he said. |
| In December 2024, French company Ardian completed a deal to become Heathrow's largest shareholder with a 23% stake, while Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund purchased a 15% share. | In December 2024, French company Ardian completed a deal to become Heathrow's largest shareholder with a 23% stake, while Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund purchased a 15% share. |
| Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave her backing for a third runway in a speech on growth in January. | Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave her backing for a third runway in a speech on growth in January. |
| Heathrow will submit its own expansion plan to the government on Thursday. | Heathrow will submit its own expansion plan to the government on Thursday. |
| It had planned to create a third runway by rerouting the M25 motorway between junctions 14 and 15 through a tunnel under the new runway. | It had planned to create a third runway by rerouting the M25 motorway between junctions 14 and 15 through a tunnel under the new runway. |
| After receiving the proposals, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision-making on any Development Consent Order application. | After receiving the proposals, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision-making on any Development Consent Order application. |
| Heathrow is understood to be open to a discussion with airlines about building a shorter runway if it can deliver the same benefits. | Heathrow is understood to be open to a discussion with airlines about building a shorter runway if it can deliver the same benefits. |
| If expanded, the number of flights at Heathrow Airport could go up to 720,000 - or nearly 2,000 a day on average. They are currently capped at 480,000 a year. | If expanded, the number of flights at Heathrow Airport could go up to 720,000 - or nearly 2,000 a day on average. They are currently capped at 480,000 a year. |
| Heathrow told the BBC that it would eventually be able to serve up to 140 million passengers a year once a third runway is in operation. | Heathrow told the BBC that it would eventually be able to serve up to 140 million passengers a year once a third runway is in operation. |
| Arora said its proposal has a cost estimate of under £25 billion | Arora said its proposal has a cost estimate of under £25 billion |
| Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said they were concerned that thousands of people would have to be rehomed for the plans to move forward. | Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said they were concerned that thousands of people would have to be rehomed for the plans to move forward. |
| He added: "There's a real danger that we'll end up with a hole in the ground and a debt pile for taxpayers to underwrite, because the government had foolishly encouraged Heathrow's profligate self-interest, as if blind to the lessons of HS2." | He added: "There's a real danger that we'll end up with a hole in the ground and a debt pile for taxpayers to underwrite, because the government had foolishly encouraged Heathrow's profligate self-interest, as if blind to the lessons of HS2." |
| In the past, the cost, the Covid pandemic and legal challenges have all got in the way of any development. | In the past, the cost, the Covid pandemic and legal challenges have all got in the way of any development. |
| A third runway was first proposed in 2009 by Gordon Brown's Labour government but was only finally given the go-ahead by the Supreme Court in 2020. | A third runway was first proposed in 2009 by Gordon Brown's Labour government but was only finally given the go-ahead by the Supreme Court in 2020. |
| 'Growth is important' | 'Growth is important' |
| The last bid sunk was partly by a legal challenge from five local councils and the Mayor of London. | The last bid sunk was partly by a legal challenge from five local councils and the Mayor of London. |
| Several members of the current government - including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - voted against a Heathrow expansion when in opposition. | Several members of the current government - including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - voted against a Heathrow expansion when in opposition. |
| But Sir Keir told the BBC that the government has climate commitments, "but growth is really important too". | But Sir Keir told the BBC that the government has climate commitments, "but growth is really important too". |
| Asked in January this year, when the government announced that it was in favour of a third runway, London's mayor Sir Sadiq Khan refused to rule out joining any future legal challenge to expansion. | Asked in January this year, when the government announced that it was in favour of a third runway, London's mayor Sir Sadiq Khan refused to rule out joining any future legal challenge to expansion. |
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