Heathrow third runway vote: Where will the 3rd runway be? Expansion map

PARLIAMENT has voted in favour of the contentious third runway at Heathrow Airport in a crunch vote on expansion in the House of Commons. So where will the third runway be?

MPs vote 415 to 119 in support of a third runway at Heathrow, giving the government a huge majority of 296.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been condemned for travelling to Afghanistan and missing the key Commons vote. 

Mr Johnson has long opposed the expansion, saying he would "lie down in front of bulldozers" to prevent it.

However, he avoided having to defy orders to toe the party line by voting against it. 

MPs were largely expected to vote in favour of expansion after ministers

Labour MPs were been given a free vote, meaning they did not have to follow the party line and could vote with their own conscience. 

Tory MPs, however, had been given a three-line whip, meaning they must vote with the Government and back the expansion.  

If they don’t, they are expected to resign. 

Under growing criticism for the timing of his trip to Afghanistan, Mr Johnson said his resignation would "achieve absolutely nothing".

Map showing proposed location of runway

Heathrow 3rd runway: This shows the proposed north-west runway (Image: Heathrow )

The controversial topic has created disruption in parliament this evening, as protestors laid down in the central lobby chanting "vote no, Heathrow."

Opening debate in the House of Commons, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said MPs faced "the biggest transport decision in a generation".

Opponents of the expansion have expressed concerns over the environmental impact, as well as impact to residents in the

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency is near the airport west of London, said the environmental impact of a bigger Heathrow posed "a threat to the planet".

An official plan of the new layout

Heathroiw 3rd runway: This plan shows the latest proposal in detail (Image: LHR Airports Limited)

The runway has long been a sticking point within Parliament. 

Almost 20 years of wrangling and delays have added to growing resident frustration. 

The runway will likely lead to hundreds of homes being demolished in the nearby villages of Longford, Harmondsworth and Sipson.

Mr Grayling announced £2.6billion in compensation for residents and noise control measures, and Prime Minister Theresa May has stressed the hundreds of thousands of jobs that would be created by the expansion. 

Map showing affected surrounding areas

Heathrow third runway: Concerned residents have been promised compensation (Image: LHR Airports Limited )

Mr Grayling has assured the public that the work will only happen if air quality commitments are met.

Mr Grayling said the £14bn runway would be completed by 2026. 

The runway would increase Heathrow’s capacity from 85.5 million passengers to 130 million annually. 

The vote will take place around 10pm, we'll know the result after that.