Heathrow third runway plans are back in front of the public, with the airport's eight-week consultation running from 27 October to 22 December 2026, while drivers crossing the Thames in east London are paying higher charges at the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels and facing night closures at Blackwall until 1 December. Heathrow says its focus is to secure planning permission by 2029 and open the runway within a decade, which places the opening closer to 2039 than the 2035 target it had set in April 2025, according to Air Cargo News. The government backed Heathrow's Northwest Runway scheme in November 2025, and the plans include a 3.5km runway and a tunnel carrying the M25 under the new airfield. At the river crossings, cars and small vans registered for Auto Pay have paid £1.55 off-peak and £4.20 at peak times at both tunnels since 21 September, up from £1.50 and £4, and the Blackwall Tunnel is under a programme of overnight closures for maintenance, as the Westminster newsroom of The WP Times reports.
For travellers from Westminster, the other pressure point is the route to the airport itself. On 3 November, a track defect near Hayes and Harlington caused severe delays on the western section of the Elizabeth line between Paddington, Heathrow and Reading, and a separate bridge strike by a road vehicle disrupted the Heathrow Express the same afternoon. The RMT has also called eight 24-hour strikes on the London Underground, starting on Thursday 26 November, which would affect the Piccadilly line to Heathrow, although the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express are run separately. Passengers flying in the coming weeks should check the route to the airport before travelling, allow extra time on strike days and consider the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express rather than the Piccadilly line. Drivers using the Blackwall Tunnel at night should expect diversions via East India Dock Road, Leamouth Road and the Lower Lea Crossing, with 15 to 40 minutes added to journeys during active closures.
Contents
Heathrow third runway: the consultation
Heathrow's 2026 consultation is aimed at residents and communities affected by the expansion, before a formal planning application is submitted.
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | Government backs Heathrow's Northwest Runway scheme |
| January 2026 | Heathrow approves funding to begin work on the planning application |
| 27 October 2026 | Eight-week public consultation opens |
| 22 December 2026 | Consultation closes |
| 2029 | Target for planning permission |
| within a decade of permission | Runway opening, likely closer to 2039 |
What is planned
The Northwest Runway scheme would add a 3.5km runway to the north-west of the existing airport, with the M25 carried in a tunnel beneath the development. The government's Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement described the scheme as the most credible and deliverable option for the Heathrow third runway.
"Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029. Once achieved the runway will be open within a decade."
(Heathrow spokesperson, quoted by Air Cargo News)
Getting to Heathrow this month
Travel to the airport from central London depends on rail lines that have faced disruption in recent days.
Recent disruption
- 3 November: a track defect near Hayes and Harlington led to a speed restriction and severe delays on the Elizabeth line between Paddington, Heathrow and Reading.
- 3 November: a road vehicle struck a railway bridge, causing delays of up to ten minutes or cancellations on the Heathrow Express in the afternoon and evening.
- Elizabeth line tickets were accepted on some Underground routes during the disruption.
Tube strike dates
The RMT's first 24-hour Underground strike is on Thursday 26 November, followed by 17 and 19 December and further dates in January and February. The Piccadilly line would be affected, while the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express are operated separately. Our guide to London tube closures lists the full strike calendar.
Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel charges
Both east London river crossings are charged under a single scheme run by Transport for London, introduced when the Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025.
Charges from 21 September 2026
| Vehicle | Time | Old charge | New charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars and small vans | off-peak | £1.50 | £1.55 |
| Cars and small vans | peak | £4.00 | £4.20 |
| Motorcycles | off-peak | £1.50 | £1.55 |
| Motorcycles | peak | £2.50 | £2.60 |
Why the charges rose
TfL says the charges are designed to manage demand and balance traffic between the two tunnels, and that the increase reflects inflation. It credits the Silvertown Tunnel with shorter and more reliable journeys through both crossings.
Blackwall Tunnel closures
The Blackwall Tunnel is subject to a long-running maintenance programme that continues until 5am on 1 December 2026, or until the work is complete.
When it closes
- Overnight closures typically run from 10pm to 5am.
- Northbound refurbishment closures run from 9pm to 5am, five nights a week.
- Some Sunday closures run from 1am to 8am.
- Some weekends see southbound closures.
Diversions
Drivers are directed via East India Dock Road, Leamouth Road, the Lower Lea Crossing and the Silvertown Tunnel southern approach. Roadside signs should be followed, as sat-nav updates can lag behind live traffic management. Current closures are listed on TfL's road status page.
Driving in central London
Drivers heading from the east into Westminster also face the congestion charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
Costs to remember
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Congestion charge | £18 a day |
| ULEZ for non-compliant vehicles | £12.50 a day |
| Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel, car, peak | £4.20 |
| Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel, car, off-peak | £1.55 |
More information
Our guide to the congestion charge 2026 explains discounts and penalties in the central zone.
Airports and tunnels: questions and answers
When does the Heathrow third runway consultation close
On 22 December 2026, after eight weeks.
When will the third runway open
Heathrow aims for planning permission by 2029 and opening within a decade, likely closer to 2039.
How much is the Blackwall Tunnel charge
Since 21 September 2026, £1.55 off-peak and £4.20 at peak times for cars registered for Auto Pay.
Is the Blackwall Tunnel closed at night
Overnight closures for maintenance continue until 1 December 2026, typically from 10pm to 5am.
Will the Tube strike affect Heathrow
The Piccadilly line would be affected on strike days. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express are run separately.
Background: London's airports and river crossings
Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport, and its expansion has been debated for more than two decades. The Silvertown Tunnel, which opened in April 2025, was built to relieve congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel, and both crossings have been charged since it opened.
Sources used: Air Cargo News, Heathrow Airport, Carwow, Transport for London, National Rail, Rus Tourism News, Preston Blog
