Four London councils, Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Richmond and Hammersmith and Fulham, have joined forces with Windsor and Maidenhead council to challenge the proposal.

All five councils are situated on Heathrow’s doorstep, and host flight paths serving the airport.

Their challenge is backed by mayor of London and Greenpeace, and follows a separate judicial review launched by rival Heathrow expansion bidder, Heathrow Hub.

The government approved Heathrow airport’s own £16 billion expansion plan in June, with MPs voting 415 to 119 in favour of building a new north west runway at the airport.

Heathrow Hub proposes a cheaper, £14 billion scheme which would see Heathrow’s northern runway extended and split in two to create an additional runway.

The five councils filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court on Tuesday (August 7), citing air quality, climate impact, noise pollution and access as the key reasons for its challenge.

A spokesperson for Heathrow said it supported the Department for Transport’s stance and was confident the process had been conducted fairly, adding work on its formal planning application for a third runway would continue despite the challenges.