One of Britain’s richest men has tabled a £25 billion alternative vision for expanding Heathrow, promising a new runway, an additional terminal, and a remodelled hub that could rival Singapore, the world’s leading passenger airport.
Surinder Arora, 66, the hotels and property magnate behind the Arora Group, has formally submitted his Heathrow West proposal to redevelop the airport west of London. His plan, drawn up in partnership with Bechtel, the US construction and infrastructure consultancy, aims to deliver a more cost-efficient expansion while avoiding disruption to the M25 orbital motorway.
The scheme includes building a fully operational 2,800-metre runway north of the two existing strips, targeted for completion by 2035, alongside a new Terminal 6 to the west of the current site, opening in stages between 2036 and 2040.
The government has reopened the debate on Heathrow’s long-delayed expansion after decades of political wrangling. While the Cameron-era airports commission backed a third runway, successive mayors of London opposed it on local and environmental grounds. Industry voices, however, have long argued that any expansion should be delivered by a competitor to Heathrow’s current owners — a group of international investors.
Arora insists his plan offers reduced land use, less disruption to nearby residents and businesses, higher levels of sustainable travel, and an expansion designed to meet the needs of airlines and freight operators. Unlike Heathrow’s £49 billion proposal, which relies on a 3,500-metre runway that would cut across the M25, his scheme avoids disturbing the motorway, making it cheaper and faster to deliver.
“Heathrow West directly meets and supports the United Kingdom’s primary objective of unlocking economic growth at the UK’s only hub airport, with a strong commitment of doing so on budget and on time,” said Arora, founder and chairman of the privately-owned Arora Group, already one of Heathrow’s largest landowners.
Carlton Brown, a long-standing Arora executive appointed chief executive of the Heathrow West project, added: “There is no reason why the UK’s only hub airport cannot outcompete not just its European rivals but also Dubai, Singapore and others.”
Arora also revealed he is working with Singapore’s Changi Airport, famed for its swimming pool, cinema and butterfly garden, to emulate “the best passenger experience in the world.” Changi has consistently been ranked by Skytrax as the world’s top airport.
The review of Heathrow’s expansion and the proposed third runway will be overseen by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, with the process expected to begin later this year.
