Heathrow expansion should be stopped, says report

London Assembly’s environment committee has published an Aircraft Noise report saying that “noise nuisance levels are unacceptable” in the UK capital.

The committee’s report looks at the impact of altitude, flight paths and night flying on residents in London. It makes a series of recommendations that include not allowing Heathrow’s third runway to be built and stopping air traffic increases at both Heathrow and London City.

It also calls for the end to night flights and “strengthened” restrictions on early morning flights, with all London airports providing “predictable periods of respite” for residents from aircraft noise.

Caroline Russell, chair of the environment committee and a Green Party assembly member, said: “The experiences of residents living with the daily nightmare of overhead noise are deeply worrying. There are significant health impacts that follow from an inability to sleep, relax and concentrate.

“This drive towards filling airspace capacity must be checked. For too many people, including children, aircraft noise is a major dominant intrusion into their everyday lives. It is not an acceptable price to pay for air travel. It isn’t right and must be challenged.

“We have already made clear our objection to the expansion of Heathrow, but aviation authorities and operators must prioritise the health and wellbeing of Londoners and give us a break.”

Heathrow was given the green light to build its controversial third runway by the government last year and the airport is also looking to increase capacity by 25,000 flights per year before the runway is built.

Meanwhile, London City is undergoing a £480 million development programme, which will increase capacity to 6.5 million passengers by 2025. The airport catered for a record-breaking 4.8 million passengers last year.