Political debate – and argument – over how and whether to expand airport capacity at London’s Heathrow has encompassed virtually my entire working career.

Britain's government will consider rival plans to expand the country's biggest airport Heathrow in the coming months, after the Arora Group confirmed on Thursday it was submitting a proposal for a new runway and terminal.

Working with US engineering giant Bechtel, the Arora Group, which is one of Heathrow’s largest landowners, said the proposal avoided costly and complex works over the M25 – a key sticking point in the airport’s own expansion plans.

Heathrow has revealed details of its plan to expand the airport at a cost of £49bn. Show more Heathrow Airport has revealed details of its plan to expand and modernise the airport at a cost of £49bn.