Third runway would directly conflict with government's housing targets in South-east
The vast majority of the homes that need to be demolished to make way for a third runway at Heathrow Airport are affordable housing for rent, Housing Today has learned.

If the proposed demolition of 10,000 homes – approximately 9000 of which are affordable social housing – was to go ahead, it would be an own goal for a government that pledged to boost affordable housing in the South-east.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott would make the ultimate decision on any expansion of the sprawling west London airport. He recently said the government estimates an extra 200,000 homes could be built in growth areas in the South-east (HT 25 July, page 9).

Prescott also carries responsibility for tackling the housing crisis across the country.

A third runway will almost certainly breach European Union pollution levels for safe habitation. A government report into the potential pollution suggests responding to this by demolishing roughly 10,000 homes in the surrounding area.

Around 6500 of the houses concerned are owned by Hounslow council. A council spokesman said: "A third runway would take into account a lot more of our borough. Social housing tenants would form the bulk of the homes that are being talked about.

"The possible loss of up to 10,000, mainly social housing, homes at a time when there is a lack of affordable homes in the South-east is causing acute problems."

The spokesman added there would be major problems if it was decided that increased traffic overhead breached strict air pollution rules.

"We'd have to find 6000 homes straight away and we also have a waiting list of over 2000. How would we do this? "We are one of the greenest boroughs in London and are loath to build on this land."

A number of housing associations have properties that could also be exposed to the pollution problem.

Places for People has around 2500 homes on the Beavers Estate, and London & Quadrant, Ealing Family and Richmond Housing Partnership all have homes around the proposed third runway.

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: "The aim of the consultation is to say: "These are the possible plans and what do people think?" If airlines were to reduce their pollution then we wouldn't have to knock down 10,000 homes."

Source

Housing Today