Homeowners in the west London villages of Longford and Harmondsworth are refusing to leave their homes as Heathrow Airport pushes ahead with plans for a £49billion third runway. Around 750 properties would be demolished if the expansion is approved, and some elderly residents say they would rather stay in their homes until they die than be forced to relocate. The story matters because it highlights the human cost of a major national infrastructure project, pitting long-standing communities against airport growth ambitions.

The proposed 2.1-mile runway would raise Heathrow's capacity by almost 50 per cent, from 84 million passengers a year to 150 million by 2035. Among those affected is David Rose, 84, who has lived in his Longford home since 1970 and raised his children there. Residents worry about where they will end up if displaced, and some feel too old to move. Airport officials have reportedly begun sending letters to those in the compulsory purchase zones offering a "mental wellbeing support service".