Third runway 'fears' creating empty homes in Heathrow villages

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

Villages around Heathrow are "dying" because of a home buy-up scheme run by airport operator BAA, an MP has claimed.

Some properties are "unsellable" because of ongoing fears over a third runway, despite the Government abandoning the plans a year ago.

Under a deal meant to help homeowners living near the west London hub, BAA has bought certain homes affected by "planning blight".

But rather than rent the properties to tenants, many are being left empty - leading to the "death of village life", according to Labour's John McDonnell.

Plans for a third landing strip were scrapped last year when the coalition Government took power.

But long-term uncertainty over BAA's expansion ambitions leaves some homeowners in villages such as Sipson, Harmondsworth, Harlington, Cranford and Longford, unable to sell their properties.

Mr McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, said: "They live under continuing fear of a third runway (plan) coming back."

When the previous Labour government signalled support for expansion, BAA agreed to buy houses residents wanted, but were unable, to sell and has so far bought 266 homes, with another eight purchases going through.

"BAA is now the largest homeowner in Sipson village and a significant homeowner in other Heathrow villages," Mr McDonnell said in a Westminster Hall debate.

"Many homes have just been left empty. We are told they are being refurbished with a view to being let, but the process is extremely slow."

While the properties remained empty, shops and pubs were struggling for trade, "undermining village life" with "appalling consequences".

Mr McDonnell told MPs: "If you lose the core village businesses - the shops, the post office, the hairdresser, the pub - the village dies."

He urged BAA to start selling or letting the properties to families.

He said: "The properties that BAA owns in Sipson are so numerous now that if they could now start a process - not all at once, but a process over a limited period of time - of putting these properties back on the market so that families can buy them so that we can re-establish a stable, thriving community."

He added: "I fear that BAA are retaining the properties, and some allege are continuing to purchase properties, around the Heathrow villages because they are convinced they can change government policy by their lobbying."

He called on BAA to make a public statement that it "gives up its expansion ambitions" and the main political parties to issue a joint declaration opposing a third runway.

Ultimately a "binding legal agreement" could be required to give certainty.

Mr McDonnell added: "I don't think it's too much to ask. My community has suffered for decades as a result of this blight and I just want my constituents to be able to live in peace, in a community and an environment of their choice, bring up their families and enjoy their lives in a way they have not been able to do as a result of the lack of security and the blight by BAA over the last three decades."

Responding to the debate, deputy Commons leader David Heath restated the Government's opposition to expansion.

He said: "We don't want to see the third runway, that is clear, we want to see Heathrow develop in a way that is better rather than bigger."