HSPG Governance

The governance for HSPG has developed over a number of years since its founding in 2015.  Alongside a formal Accord which sets out the Partnership’s governance approach, there are also a number of other key documents and research papers that have been produced across the last few years that help inform our work – and responses made in respect to any expansion scheme at the airport. 

  • The cornerstone of the Partnership is our Accord.  Agreed by all members, this sets out ways of working between councils and the Secretariat, including terms of reference of our working groups and strategic steering boards (Chief Executives and Executive Partnership Board for elected Leaders and Portfolio Holders).  The Accord was last consulted on and amended in October 2023, available here. The specific role of London Borough of Hounslow as accountable body for the partnership is set out in a separate MOU (agreed in 2022).
  • The strategic aims of objectives of the partnership are summarised in our Outcomes Framework. This articulates a shared vision for sustainable growth across the Heathrow area. In particular it summarises the expectations held by HSPG members in respect to the design of any expansion scheme at the airport, and the likely required mitigation for such a scheme to be acceptable in planning terms.  The latest Outcomes Framework was consulted in 2025 across all our officer working groups and is now pending final endorsement by elected leaders and portfolio holders.
  • The HSPG Vision and Principles document was produced by HSPG members in conjunction with Heathrow Airport Limited in 2015, following the publication of the Airports Commission Report, which effectively supported the north-west runway at Heathrow Airport. It sets out key objectives for future airport expansion ahead of Heathrow developing a DCO scheme.  Whilst this document relates to the previous DCO scheme, many of the key principles remain extant and supported by HSPG members.
  • In 2020, HSPG produced an Economic Development Vision and Action Plan (EDVAP), an action-focused Plan to maximise the economic productivity, skills, jobs and business development in the HSPG area, through the prism of Heathrow airport economic activity, either current or with an eye on potential expansion. The EDVAP should be read alongside the action plan and evidence base.  The EDVAP was a substantial piece of collaborative work and the partnership is looking to renew and update this in the light of a new DCO coming forward, resources permitting.
  • In 2020 the HSPG also produced a Joint Spatial Planning Framework (JSPF) for the sustainable development of the sub-region, to address the implications of both ‘baseline growth’ and the additional growth demand forecast to result from the expansion of Heathrow Airport over the next 30 years. This responds to Government policy and the proposals of Heathrow Airport Limited, to construct a new Northwest Runway. The JSPF is also due for updating, with resources currently being sought to undertake this work.

 

Significant HSPG responses to DCO to date: (see here for a full list of consultation responses and policy papers: Policy Responses – Heathrow Strategic Planning Group)

  • Covering Letter for the HSPG AEC Response – September 2019
  • HSPG AEC Response- September 2019
  • Joint Connectivity Statement- September 2019
  • Map for Joint Connectivity Statement- September 2019
  • HSPG Green and Blue Infrastructure Headline Response – September 2019