Heathrow’s plan to consult residents on which option they prefer for a third runway had been criticised by a campaign group.

Heathrow will ask residents their preference between extending the northern runway – the Heathrow hub option, or adding a new runway north of the northern runway – an option put forward by the airport.

The hub option, put forward by former Concorde pilot Jock Lowe, would mean arrivals and departures could use the northern runway simultaneously, which campaign group Hacan said would mean all-day flying for people under the flight path.

Hacan chairman John Stewart said: “Heathrow Airport has never liked the Heathrow hub option and I suspect this is a way of putting pressure on the Airports Commission for it to be ruled out.

“But for residents it is like being asked to choose whether you preferred being murdered by Jack the Ripper or the Boston Strangler.”

A Heathrow spokesman said its own third runway option would provide respite for residents, unlike the hub option.

The spokesman said: “We believe that respite from noise remains important for local communities and we plan on asking people for their views directly early in 2014.

“We know that the people that Hacan represents oppose a third runway, but there are many others who support a third runway and will want to have their say on how it should be built and operate.”

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, which is also looking at a second runway at Gatwick, will publish its final report next summer.