The UK government has launched a review of the Airports National Policy Statement, a move welcomed by Logistics UK and other industry bodies that see it as a chance to modernize policy, support airport expansion where justified, and secure the country’s role in global trade. Announced on 22 October 2025 by the Transport Secretary, the review aims to accelerate consideration of Heathrow’s third runway, update policy to reflect new environmental duties, and set a clearer path for future decisions on major airport capacity.
Logistics UK argues the review can align planning rules with the realities of the supply chain, especially as UK airports handle 2.6 million tonnes of cargo each year and air freight exports contribute £95.6 billion in Gross Value Added to the economy. The group has long pushed for planning reform to let projects move forward when they bring clear economic and logistics benefits and when promoters can show credible plans for sustainability, innovation, and affordability.
Major aviation stakeholders—including AirportsUK, Airlines UK, and IATA—also back the review’s direction. They point to the need for a stable, predictable policy framework that encourages private investment, keeps costs under control for passengers and shippers, and aligns with the UK’s net zero path. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, industry support hinges on whether the revised policy can balance growth with practical climate checks, so projects can proceed without lengthy uncertainty that strains airlines, exporters, and communities.
Policy review timeline and immediate milestones
The Department for Transport intends to publish a revised draft Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) for public consultation by summer 2026. In the near term, ministers aim to choose a preferred scheme to inform that review, with a final decision on the preferred expansion scheme by the end of November 2025.
Key immediate dates and steps:
1. Promoters submit further details by 12 November 2025.
2. Government plans to narrow the options to one scheme after that submission.
3. A preferred scheme is expected to be chosen by the end of November 2025.
4. The ANPS review will then produce a draft for public consultation in summer 2026.
Two proposals remain under consideration:
– A scheme from Heathrow Airport Limited
– A scheme from the Arora Group
Officials will seek advice from the Climate Change Committee to ensure any preferred scheme reflects the UK’s climate duties. The review explicitly focuses on whether expansion proposals can meet four tests:
- Economic growth
- Air quality
- Noise
- Climate change obligations, including net zero targets
The government has signaled that any expansion must be privately financed, affordable, and environmentally responsible.
For background documents and official guidance, see the Department for Transport’s ANPS materials at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/airports-national-policy-statement.
Economic stakes and why the review matters
Supporters say clearer policy will help the UK compete for long‑haul routes, attract investment, and strengthen supply chains that depend on fast delivery of high‑value goods.
Logistics UK emphasizes:
– Airport policy must match the scale of today’s trade flows; air freight links UK manufacturers, e‑commerce exporters, and life sciences firms to global markets where delivery speed matters.
– The planning system should keep pace with advances such as sustainable aviation fuel and airspace modernization, which can cut emissions and improve efficiency.
Industry groups also stress the need for credible safeguards:
– Robust air quality plans
– Strong noise mitigation for local communities
– Firm alignment with climate commitments
They argue this balance is essential to secure public trust while allowing projects to proceed within a transparent, lawful framework. The four review tests provide a clear lens: if expansion can drive growth without breaching climate and health standards, it will have a stronger case to proceed.
Impact on businesses, communities and workers
A predictable ANPS could help a wide range of stakeholders plan more confidently.
For businesses and exporters:
– Ability to plan long‑term contracts and logistics hubs
– Improved reliability for just‑in‑time delivery and perishable goods
– Potential to reduce delays and costs that harm competitiveness
For local communities:
– Noise and air quality tests will be central to assessing impacts
– Public consultation provides a formal route for residents, local authorities, and civil society to raise concerns and suggest mitigations
For workers in cargo handling, engineering, and airport services:
– A clearer system could unlock private investment in facilities, technology, and training
– Jobs are not guaranteed, but policy clarity improves the chances of investment-led opportunities
What stakeholders want from the review
Logistics UK’s position is straightforward: where evidence shows clear economic and supply chain gains—and where promoters meet environmental thresholds—airport expansion should be enabled through a modern, efficient planning system. The group stresses the need for infrastructure that matches current and future trade needs, given how cargo operations underpin high‑value exports.
Airlines and airports view the review as an opportunity to:
– Reset after years of stop‑start debates over capacity
– Reduce procedural disputes and focus on data, costs, and mitigation
– Demonstrate how sustainable aviation fuel supply chains, improved flight paths, and better ground operations can lower emissions while protecting competitiveness
In practice, this means promoters must show how they will:
– Minimize noise exposure
– Keep local air quality within legal limits
– Meet carbon budgets and net zero trajectories
The balance to be struck and next steps
The government’s timeline presses for quick clarity. With promoter details due by 12 November 2025, and a preferred scheme expected by the end of November 2025, the coming weeks are pivotal. Once a scheme is selected it will feed into the ANPS review and the public consultation in summer 2026.
Key points to watch:
– How the Climate Change Committee frames advice on scope and conditions
– How promoters document trade benefits, credible mitigation, and financing
– The government’s application of the four tests: economic growth, air quality, noise, and climate commitments
Expansion is not a blank check: industry welcome is tied to discipline on climate, costs passed to customers, and community protections.
A modernized Airports National Policy Statement, shaped by consultation and grounded in evidence, could provide the certainty long sought by the sector while holding projects to firm environmental standards. Logistics UK, AirportsUK, Airlines UK, IATA, and others are preparing submissions likely to focus on:
– How air freight supports national productivity
– How net zero pathways can guide design and operations
– How robust planning can reduce delay and cost for passengers, shippers, and communities alike
This Article in a Nutshell
On 22 October 2025 the UK government launched a review of the Airports National Policy Statement to modernize planning rules, accelerate assessment of Heathrow’s third runway, and set clearer pathways for major airport capacity decisions. Logistics UK and major aviation groups back the move, highlighting the logistical importance of air freight—handling 2.6 million tonnes annually and contributing £95.6 billion in GVA. Promoters must submit further details by 12 November 2025, with a preferred scheme expected by the end of November; a revised ANPS draft will go to public consultation in summer 2026. The review will test proposals against four criteria: economic growth, air quality, noise and climate commitments, with advice sought from the Climate Change Committee. The government requires expansion to be privately financed, affordable and environmentally responsible, and industry groups stress credible mitigation plans for air quality, noise and carbon as conditions for public support.
