The Heathrow villagers fearing a third runway: 'We already stink of jet fuel'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that the government backs a third runway at Heathrow Airport being constructed.

Reeves has stared down local opposition and from those in her own party who are against the expansion of the UK’s busiest airport by announcing the construction of the “badly needed” runway during a speech in Oxfordshire on Wednesday.

She said the runway will be “delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives” – but homeowners in Harmondsworth, Middlesex, where the third runway will be built, told Yahoo News of the financial and environmental consequences of living so close to Heathrow.

On Wednesday, the chancellor described Britain as a country of “huge potential” but said that “for too long, that potential has been held back”.

She added: “For too long, we have accepted low expectations, accepted stagnation and accepted the risk of decline. We can do so much better.

“Low growth is not our destiny. But growth will not come without a fight. Without a government that is on the side of working people. Willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s course for the better.”

The news won’t come as a surprise to many after Reeves said on Sunday that the full cabinet must back any potential expansion of Heathrow Airport despite previous opposition from senior government figures.

However, the confirmation of the third runway also means that 700 homes will need to be demolished in the 1,500-strong population of Harmondsworth. The locals face being forced out of their homes so construction can go ahead.

Married couple Steve and Ann Lucas are among those who will lose their home now that the expansion is going ahead – but they say selling won’t be easy.

Mrs Lucas said: “Obviously the value of our home has been blighted by the expansion – so anyone who’s made offers has offered around £70,000 less than its actual market value. And the other thing is – estate agents won’t offer mortgages around here. So you can only accept cash buyers.“

The chancellor said over the weekend that there was “huge investment” going on in electric planes, while a third runway would also allow flights to land at Heathrow instead of circling around London and damaging the environment.

But Justine Bailey, 74, who lives on the other side of Harmondsworth and is chairman of the Stop Heathrow Expansion Campaign, says she can’t understand how Labour can push ahead with the runway whilst sticking to their climate plans.

“I just don’t see how the government can commit to this while also maintaining their net zero pledges. I know the pitch is to do with growth – but this won’t bring about an immediate economy boost. It’s going to take several years.”

Resident Julian Mosses, 74, agrees and said he was “disappointed” as he thought Labour “were committed to the environment”.

He added: “Just this morning I went for a run and the whole village stunk horrendously of jet fuel."

Now that the project has got the green light from the government, it does not mean construction will start straight away – in fact the airport needs to secure approval for a development consent Oorder to go ahead with the project.

The scheme would involve around seven years of construction to produce a third runway and a new terminal. It means residents are in something of a limbo while they try to sell up.

Bailey added: “The blight of this has hung over this community for decades. For the people living here it's just been desperate uncertainty – as they wait to find out if they’re losing their homes.

“And those who want to leave the uncertainty can’t because they’re unable to sell their homes.”

Where would the third runway at Heathrow go?

The proposed third runway at Heathrow would stretch out to the west of the airport, aligning roughly with the M25 motorway. It would sit between the current northern runway and the M25, affecting several nearby communities.

Localities such as Sipson, Longford, and segments of Stanwell Moor would face significant changes, with residents potentially losing both homes and community resources due to land acquisition for the project.

However, Harmondsworth would see the most dramatic transformation. The village has a rich history dating back centuries.

Past proposals for the runway had initially threatened the existence of historic structures, sparking such string opposition in the community that the runway's trajectory was only slightly altered.

A third runway will essentially split Harmondsworth in two, fundamentally altering the village's landscape.

Timeline of the road to Heathrow’s third runway

The saga of Heathrow's third runway began in June 2001 when it was reported that Labour ministers were “seriously considering” expansion to match European competitors.

In July 2002, the government included this in its airport expansion options, highlighting the need due to capacity issues.

A White Paper in December 2003 officially proposed the runway and a sixth terminal. However, opposition grew, with environmental protests at Sipson in August 2007.

Despite resistance, Labour approved the runway in January 2009, but the Conservative opposition promised to cancel it.

Tory leader David Cameron declared that Heathrow expansion will not go ahead, saying “no ifs, no buts”. This promise was fulfilled in 2010 when they formed a coalition government.

But things changed by 2012 when airport expansion was reconsidered, and both prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne acknowledged a need for airport expansion in south-east England. This led to the creation of the Airports Commission.

Their final recommendation – three years later in 2015 – favoured Heathrow over Gatwick but Cameron resigned after the Brexit referendum, leading the decision with new prime minister Theresa May – who gave it the government’s backing.

But what followed was a series of legal battles, with significant rulings in 2019 and 2020 questioning the legality of the expansion.

Despite these, Heathrow's CEO Thomas Woldbye argued in 2024 for the runway due to increasing passenger numbers. In January 2025, following speculation in the press, Labour chancellor Reeves announced that the government backs the third runway at Heathrow, marking the start of another chapter in the long-running saga.

Watch: Mayor of London does not support Heathrow expansion

Click below to see the latest South and South East headlines