Projects · Thames Valley · 3 October 2026

Heathrow's third runway slips to 2039: what is being built near the airport now

Heathrow's third runway is now expected to open in 2039, four years later than the Government's 2035 target. The airport is reported to have told ministers that the earlier date is not possible. It still aims to secure planning permission by 2029, and says the runway will open within a decade of that.

Where the runway stands

There is no planning application yet. The Government published a draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement on 18 June 2026. Consultation closed on 1 September and parliamentary scrutiny runs until 26 November. The statement does not grant development consent or approve any scheme. For anyone planning crew accommodation, the runway is a job for the 2030s.

What is planned for now

Heathrow's investment plan for 2026 is £1.3 billion. It includes an overhaul of Terminal 4 with a new multi-storey car park and an upgraded check-in area, phased to keep the terminal operating and expected to be completed by 2031. It also includes a new Terminal 2 baggage system able to handle 31,000 bags a day.

North of the airport at Iver, Corscale is developing a 140 MW data centre campus on a 14-acre site on Court Lane, beside the M25. The scheme is two buildings and a substation. McLaren Construction is the main contractor. Predevelopment works were scheduled to start on 1 July 2026, with practical completion targeted for the last quarter of 2029.

Where crews stay

Hayes, West Drayton, Feltham and Staines are among the nearest towns to the airport. Iver sits between Slough and Uxbridge. Further out along the M40, High Wycombe is under half an hour by car from both the airport and Iver.

What to check before you book

• Shift times. Terminal work is phased around a working airport, so confirm the hours before you choose a town.
• Parking for a van, not just a car.
• A kitchen and a washing machine for any stay of more than a week.
• Whether the booking can be extended by phone if the programme moves.

We have a two-bedroom house with parking in High Wycombe. It sleeps three, and is 28 minutes from Heathrow and 27 minutes from Iver. If you have a larger crew, send us your headcount and dates and we will tell you what we can do. If you own a house near Heathrow or Iver, we would like to hear from you too.

Renovest Properties is an independent accommodation operator and is not affiliated with Heathrow or Corscale.

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