Heathrow shown with a third runway over the M25 Heathrow Airport

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

Night flights in and out of Heathrow could be changed as part of new plans being consulted on –  as moves to ramp up to a third runway continue and residents have less than two weeks left to have their say.

The government is changing its Heathrow Expansion National Policy, which sets out how a third runway would be built.

The draft applies only to the northwestern runway project and also takes into consideration road and rail links, economics,  as well as the social and environmental impacts related to its proposed expansion.

The deadline to take part is September 1 and questions include whether people support the proposed expansion, their thoughts on the new runway’s impact on air quality, noise, climate change mitigation and economic growth.

On night flights, the Government has said that the ban will remain in place – but that it is seeking to change the “definition”  through this consultation”.

Diagram showing departure routes from Heathrow. Planes flying southwards may fly over Guildford. Source: Heathrow Our Company website

Currently there on average about 650 departures from Heathrow each day. The first departure is around 6am and the last scheduled departure is at 10.50pm.

Residents are being asked whether they agree or disagree that the proposed ban should be defined as when a ‘plane takes off or lands’ instead of ‘departure from and arrival to terminal’.

It also asks whether compensation for residents affected by noise breaches is fair. Heathrow is the United Kingdom’s only major hub airport and has operated at or near capacity for years.

Those in favour of expanding the airport say it needs the new runway to meet the growth in demand for aviation or risk missing out on opportunities available to businesses, passengers and communities.

Opponents have argued the economic benefits are overstated and the environmental harm too great.

The development consent would cover the Northwest Runway which, if built, would be up to 3,500m and be capable of enabling at least 260,000 additional flights a year. It would also cover any new or reconfigured terminals.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander

Heidi Alexander,  Secretary of State for Transport, at the launch of the consultation: “The government will consider all responses carefully before deciding whether to proceed with designation.

“Any final Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement will be published, laid before Parliament, and subject to a vote in the House of Commons before having legal effect.

“Heathrow expansion is a decision of national importance. It requires ambition, responsibility and proper scrutiny. This consultation is an important part of that process, and I encourage everyone with an interest to take part.”