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<p>On 25 October 2016 the Government announced that a Northwest Runway at Heathrow
Airport, combined with a significant package of supporting measures, was its preferred
scheme to deliver additional airport capacity in the South East of England. Parliament
approved the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) in June 2018, which set out
that for expansion of Heathrow Airport, responsibility for improving surface access
sits with the applicant.</p><p> </p><p>The independent Airports Commission considered
the potential surface access implications of three expansion schemes. Its final report
was published in July 2015 and estimated the potential cost of surface access in relation
to the scheme which had been proposed by Gatwick airport at £0.8bn.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government published its Aviation Strategy 2050 consultation document in December
2018. Among other things, the document makes the case that airports are ‘unique’ multi-modal
transport hubs, and should be recognised and treated as such. As the document sets
out, the Government believes that the provision and funding of surface access infrastructure
and services to airports is primarily the responsibility of the airport operator.
But where there are significant non-airport public user benefits from changes and
enhancements to the infrastructure and services, the Government has made clear it
would consider making a funding contribution to reflect these.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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