Calls for Heathrow Stage 2 Plan over air and noise pollution concerns

The London Assembly has today called on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reject Heathrow Airport’s Stage 2 Plan as part of its Airspace Modernisations plans.

Concerns have been raised regarding the impact the proposals would have on Richmond Park, with plans showing planes would fly just 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the area, impacting the biodiversity of the area.

All airports across the UK are currently going through the Airspace Modernisation plans process, and the London Assembly has today urged the CAA to reject the plans, and for Heathrow to bring forward updated plans.

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“We know that increased flight paths can significantly impact human health.

“The current flightpaths have been in place since the 1950’s and people have made life decisions based on those flight paths.

“We also know that low-flying aircraft can impact our wildlife.

“With the possibility of up to an estimated 60,000 low-flying planes going over Richmond Park if these proposals go ahead; one of London’s most nature-dense areas could be seriously impacted.

“That is why we are calling on the Civil Aviation Authority to reject the Stage 2 plans of Heathrow and for Heathrow to go back to the drawing board and to bring forward proposals that include a Status Quo / Do Minimum option and that protect London’s communities and Richmond Park from increased flight paths.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes that Heathrow recently uploaded its Stage 2 results onto the portal of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and is seeking CAA Gateway approval to proceed to Stage 3 of its Airspace Modernisation plans. All airports across the UK are currently going through this process.

This Assembly notes that as part of the CAP 1616 “Airspace Design: Guidance on the regulatory process for changing airspace design including community engagement requirements”, a Status Quo / Do Minimum option has to be provided and that other airports, such as Manchester Airport, included such a Status Quo / Do Minimum option in their submission.

This Assembly notes with concern that Heathrow Airport did not include a Status Quo / Do Minimum option in its submission.

This Assembly notes with additional concern that Heathrow has chosen to include numerous flight path options that would clearly impact Richmond Park profoundly in its shortlist to be carried forward to Stage 3. This is in contradiction with CAP 1616, as Heathrow had identified Richmond Park as a specific area that should be avoided by low flying aircraft where possible. The impact that around 60,000 aircraft flying only 1500-2000 feet above Richmond Park would have on the area’s tranquillity and biodiversity is substantial due to the expected significant increases of noise and air pollution.

This Assembly notes with additional concern that more Londoners will be impacted by noise pollution from the Airport under the current proposals put forward by Heathrow due to the significant increase in potential fly paths.

This Assembly calls on the CAA to reject the Heathrow Stage 2 Plan.

This Assembly also calls on Heathrow to go back to the drawing board and bring forward proposals that include a Status Quo / Do Minimum option and that protect Richmond Park and London’s communities from increased flight paths.