<P> In December 2006 the Department for Transport published a progress report on the strategy which confirmed the original vision of expanding the runways . In November 2007 the government started a public consultation on its proposal for a slightly shorter third runway (2,000 metres (2,187 yd)) and a new passenger terminal . </P> <P> The plan was supported by businesses, the aviation industry, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and the then Labour government . It was opposed by Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties as opposition parties and then as a coalition government . Boris Johnson, the past Mayor of London, as well as many environmental and local advocacy groups and prominent individuals also opposed the project . While the expansion was originally cancelled on 12 May 2010 by the new coalition government, as of 1 July 2015 the plan has been suggested as the best option by the Airport Commission . On 25 October 2016 a new northwest runway and terminal was approved by the Government . It was opposed by Zac Goldsmith, who resigned as Conservative MP for Richmond Park in protest, and stood in the resulting by - election as an anti-Heathrow expansion candidate . Goldsmith failed to win re-election at the by - election . </P> <P> In January 2009, the then Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that the UK government supported the expansion of Heathrow by building a third runway (2200m) and sixth terminal building . The government would not undertake construction, but encourage the airport operator (BAA) to apply for planning permission and carry out the work . The government anticipated that the new runway would be operational in 2015 or soon after . In 2009 the government declared that they did not intend that the third runway should be used at full capacity when it is first opened . Initially the extra flights should be limited to 125,000 a year until 2020, rather than the 222,000 at full capacity . </P> <P> In January 2009, more detailed plans for the third runway were approved together with a sixth terminal and also a major new Heathrow Hub railway station which would provide better high - speed domestic rail links to the Great Western Main Line . Plans for a high - speed rail connection direct to Heathrow were however dropped during 2010 . </P>

Where is the third runway at heathrow planned