An expanded Heathrow airport has been proposed for almost as long as it has existed; in the late 1940’s / early 1950’s it was put forward that a heli-pad and other related items would be placed immediately to the north of the A4 which is where much of the more modern parts of Sipson currently sit. Click here for a link to a very informative external page that lists previous LHR expansion shenanigans.

2003: A White Paper recommends a third runway for Heathrow 

2007: Public consultation on the third runway begins 

2009: The Labour government announces support for expansion, with a tentative opening date of 2015 

2010: The Coalition government cancels expansion plans 

2015: The Airports Commission publishes a report calling for a new runway 

2016: The Conservative government allows Heathrow to expand 

2018: The House of Commons votes in favor of the third runway 

2020: The Court of Appeal blocks the plans on environmental grounds, but the Supreme Court overturns the decision 

2023: The plan stalls due to falling passenger numbers and investment costs 

2024: As of June, the third runway is still planned for completion around 2040