Heathrow Rail Links Mentioned in Parliamentary Questions and Debates

Grant Shapps MP: As part of the surface access requirements in the draft Airports National Policy Statement, Government has specified that any applicant for development consent should set out the mitigation measures that it considers are required to minimise and mitigate the effect of expansion on existing surface access arrangements. The Department is engaging with a range of stakeholders, including Heathrow Airport Ltd, about surface access to the airport. Following the publication in November 2019 of the potential strategic objectives for a new Southern Access to Heathrow scheme, the Department has been discussing with Heathrow how such a scheme could be taken forward and its future role. Subject to the scheme development, this has the potential to provide improved rail links from Putney and South West London to Heathrow Airport.

Baroness Vere: The market sounding exercise undertaken last year did not seek specific schemes to be submitted. The exercise sought to gauge market appetite for the taking of risk in relation to the design, construction, financing and funding of a new southern rail scheme to Heathrow Airport. The briefing document published as part of the market sounding did make clear that for schemes to be considered true market led proposals, full risk would have to be borne by the private sector. This includes the acceptance of revenue risk without requiring undertakings or guarantees by government including of future train usage.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department has not undertaken a procurement process to select a preferred developer for a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government fully supports the development of a Western Rail Link to Heathrow. The development of a five case business case for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow is nearing completion. The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline sets out the process and principles underpinning funding of enhancements to the railway. Subject a satisfactory business case, and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry, funding would be made available to take the project forward to the ‘Design’ gateway. On that basis, Network Rail expects to submit its Development Consent Order later in the Autumn.

Andrew Jones MP: When developing the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), the Government considered the environmental impacts of airport expansion, including surface access, in its assessment. The ANPS is clear that a new Northwest Runway will not receive Development Consent unless it can demonstrate compliance with air quality and climate change obligations.Specific assessment of air quality and climate change impacts associated with the proposed Western and Southern Rail Links will form part of the required environmental assessments accompanying any development consent application. Both schemes are intended to support travel mode shift from road to rail, therefore supporting air quality and climate change targets.RegardsMark

Andrew Jones MP: 30 market-led proposals were received in response to the Call for Ideas launched in March 2018. Due to commercial confidentiality we are not able to disclose details of meetings or correspondence with particular proposals. The Department responded to those proposals in December 2018 and continued engagement with 10 proposals which had the potential to be financially credible without government support.Separately to the Call for Ideas, a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow Market Sounding was also launched in March 2018. Following the publication of the Market Sounding Report in December 2018 the Department has been working to further develop and clarify the outcomes we want to be delivered from this project and consider appropriate commercial and procurement models. This work will be made available to the market by the summer along with further engagement opportunities.

Andrew Jones MP: My Department has continued to actively engage with many parties in the interest of passengers and communities including Local Authorities, Transport for London and representatives of the aviation industry since the publication of the Market Sounding Findings Report published in December 2018.

Michael Ellis: The Airports National Policy Statement is clear that any application for development consent must include details of how the applicant will achieve a wide range of mitigations, including public transport mode share targets. Mitigations included in a Development Consent Order or recommended as a result of examination will become requirements that are enforceable under the Planning Act 2008. The detail of these requirements, including any penalties, will flow from the planning process, but could include financial provision for remedial measures or operating restrictions. A breach of any requirement without reasonable excuse would be a criminal offence, and there are wide-ranging powers for the relevant planning authority to investigate and intervene should there be any breach, including by injunctions.

Andrew Jones MP: The Department has been actively engaging with many interested parties to better understand their views on this scheme. This is being done as part of the work to clarify Government’s objectives for the scheme which was a recommendation of the Market Sounding Findings Report, published in December 2018.

Andrew Jones MP: The Department has not undertaken a procurement process to select a preferred developer for a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow. Following the publication of the Market Sounding Report which showed that none of the schemes put forward were able to advance without Government support, and in line with the Report recommendations, the Department has been working to further develop and clarify the outcomes we want to be delivered from this project and consider appropriate commercial and procurement models. This work will be made available to the market by the summer along with further engagement opportunities.