About Us

HSPG works with a number of other organisations to ensure that the airport is sustainably planned and managed, such as infrastructure providers to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is provided at the right time in the right place, and to ensure the highest possible environmental standards for the area. Those organisations include Government departments, Heathrow Area Transport Forum (HATF), Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) itself, Heathrow Community Engagement Board (HCEB), Highways England, Environment Agency, West London Alliance and other local authorities in the area not part of HSPG.

HSPG has a governance process set out in an agreed Accord setting out the detail of the aims, terms of reference and governance of the Group, and a set of Outcome Statements giving the key objectives of the Group seeks to achieve (see Resources area for a copy). The Outcome Statements have been expanded upon in various responses and submissions made by HSPG to consultations carried out be Parliament, Government and HAL.

The governance arrangements provide for:

Executive Partnership Board

The partnership board is the key discussion forum for Council Leaders (or nominees such as a relevant Portfolio Holder) and other Leaders of the member organisations. The meeting provides a regular slot for Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) to collectively update key community stakeholders on strategic matters and is typically attended by HAL's Chief Carbon and Strategy Officer. When required, this board will formally determine the strategic direction and any collective 'decisions' of HSPG. The Board is supported by the HSPG Core Team.

Chief Officers Steering Board

Representatives at the Chief Executive level from a representative sample of our membership attend our quarterly Chief Officer Steering Board to provide overall strategic direction to the partnership and advise on progression of particular projects and initiatives.

Technical Sub-groups

  • Our four specialist sub-groups meet from regularly (typically bi-monthly) to review a wide range of technical matters relevant for members. The four groups are:
  • - Surface Access & Transport,
  • - Spatial Planning, Strategy & Consents
  • - Environment & Airspace Management
  • - Economic Development & Renewal
  • These are attended by specialist lead technical officers.

Core Team

The Group is supported by a small Core Team of consultants under contract to Slough Borough Council as the group's accountable body. Together with administration support provide by Slough, these consultants provide the secretariat for the group. The Team can be contacted using the details on the 'Contact Us' page.

Funding

HSPG is funded by member contributions, but is open to other sources of funding as appropriate, and will look at potential funding bids to Government and other bodies.

Summit meetings, wider briefings and publicity

HSPG holds Summit meetings, inviting all HSPG members but also neighbouring local authorities and a wide range of other stakeholders potentially impacted by Heathrow airport, to consider key pressing strategic issues and to update attendees on the work of the Group.

Membership of the HSPG and other participants

Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (HSPG) is a voluntary partnership of local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the area surrounding Heathrow Airport which are engaged in planning for the development of the sub-region and ensuring that the airport is operated and developed in a way that is well planned and sustainable for the communities that live around it. The Group is supported by a small Secretariat Team funded by the Full Members.

The Full Members of the Heathrow Strategic Planning Group are:

Thames Valley Buckinghamshire LEP

Elmbridge Borough Council

Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership

London Borough of Ealing

London Borough of Hounslow

Runnymede Borough Council

Slough Borough Council

Spelthorne Borough Council

Surrey County Council

Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Other organisations participate in many of the activities of the HSPG, many with ‘Observer’ status ,including:

Buckinghamshire Council

Colne Valley Regional Park

Department for Transport(Aviation Team) and other Government Departments

Environment Agency

Heathrow Transport Area Forum

Highways England

Independent Commission on CivilAviation Noise

London Borough of Hillingdon

London Borough of Richmond

Natural England

Public Health England

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (of the Local Government Association)

Transport for London

West London Alliance (of West London Boroughs)

West London Business

Relationship with Heathrow Airport

The HSPG is independent, but works closely with, the airport operator Heathrow Airport Limited.





Past and Future

The HSPG was first established in late 2015 through a belief that collaborative working will lead to greater understanding and influence over the potential impact of airport expansion on the wider area, and help us minimise the potential harmful impacts and maximise the potential benefits of expansion through joint representation to Government, Heathrow Airport Limited and other key stakeholders. The Group established a Leaders Board and adopted the Accord in October 2017.

That collaborative and partnership is equally as important now (even given the radical changes of context following the legal challenges to the Airports NPS and the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic) with the current focus on sustainable recovery for local communities and businesses from C19 and the downturn around the airport and in the HSPG area. The Group will continue to develop and evolve in response to changing needs in the future.