Hotel Tycoon Unveils Rival £25bn Heathrow Expansion Plan

Surinder Arora, a hotel and property tycoon, has unveiled a rival £25 billion plan called Heathrow West to expand London's Heathrow Airport with a 2,800-metre third runway and a new Terminal 6, aiming for operational readiness by 2035 and 2040 respectively. Partnering with Singapore’s Changi Airport, ranked the world’s best by Skytrax, Arora's plan emphasizes enhancing passenger experience while avoiding disruption to the M25 motorway, which contrasts with Heathrow’s owners' proposal for a longer 3,500-metre runway that requires diverting the motorway. The plan, developed with infrastructure company Bechtel, claims to reduce costs, delivery timescales, and construction risks compared to Heathrow’s £21 billion privately-funded scheme. Arora’s proposal also highlights benefits such as reduced land use, less impact on local residents and businesses, and support for sustainable travel. The UK government, through Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, is currently reviewing both submissions as part of a broader reconsideration of airport expansion policy. Industry observers note that Arora's plan potentially introduces competition to the airport’s traditional ownership, which could influence the future of Heathrow’s development.