Heathrow Terminal 5

The application for Heathrow's Terminal 5 was submitted by BAA on 17 February 1993. It wasn't until 20 November 2001 when the Government announced it's decision. It was the longest public inquiry in British planning history.

Nine topics were examined in detail. These include:

• The Economic / Aviation case
• Development pressures / Regional planning
• Land use policy
• Surface access
• Noise
• Air quality
• Public safety
• Construction
• Associated applications

Almost 700 conditions were set down including the requirement that extensions to Heathrow Express and the London Underground Piccadilly Line be fully operational for Terminal 5's opening.

A further condition of the public enquiry required the diversion of two rivers that had bisected the site of Terminal 5. The Duke of Northumberland's and and Longford Rivers have now been diverted along the Western edge of the airport in specially constructed channels. This was successfully completed in April 2004.

Construction began in the summer of 2002. The construction program is vast and encompasses more than just a terminal building. It will also require a comprehensive airfield infrastructure and ancillary buildings, while an 87 metre tall Air Traffic Control Tower will serve the whole of Heathrow. Also a 600 bed hotel and a multi-story car park will be built.

When fully complete in 2011 Terminal 5 will have the capacity to handle 30 million passengers a year.

During the inquiry 21,000 people registered their opposition to the project, however 35,000 people registered their support.