Saturday 29 October 2016 9:46 am

First legal challenges to Heathrow expansion take off as residents’ group claims bias

We all knew they were coming; it was a matter of when rather than if.

And not a week since the government announced that Heathrow expansion was getting the green light, the first legal challenge has been set in motion against the third runway.

Residents' organisation Teddington Action Group (TAG) is alleging "apparent bias" against Sir Howard Davies, chair of the Airports Commission. TAG has announced it will also ask judges to block a decision that will mean many more flights a year, with increased noise and air pollution.

The group has sent a pre-action "letter of claim" to transport secretary Chris Grayling listing a number of reasons why permission for the new scheme is flawed in their eyes. The 27-page document contains an allegation of apparent bias against Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, saying he was a paid adviser to one of the hub's shareholders.

The letter says he did not reveal his involvement with GIV Private Ltd, one of Heathrow's principal owners, in the commission's register of interests.

Friends of the Earth has also raised the possibility of a legal challenge, writing to the department of transport over its handling of the decision.

Wandsworth, along with Windsor and Maidenhead, Hillingdon and Richmond councils, are planning their legal strategy going forwards. The group has teamed up to fight the expansion.

When the airport decision was made on Tuesday, a spokesman for Wandsworth council told City A.M. that it had not decided when a judicial review would be launched, but "our legal team is looking at the government's announcement now and deciding our legal strategy".

Wandsworth council leader Ravi Govindia said: "This is deeply distressing news for the communities around this airport, but this fight is far from over."