No change proposed for night flight regime at Heathrow

The Government is proposing no change to the number of night flights at Heathrow.  The consultation document, released on 12/1/17 by the Department for Transport, argues that the current regime should continue for the next five years.  It will then be clearer whether a third runway will be underway.  Permission to build a third runway is expected to be conditional on a tougher night flight regime being introduced when it opens.

At present an average of 16 flights each night are allowed to land at Heathrow between 11.30pm and 6am.  There are no scheduled departures during this period.  The first flight lands at 4.30am.

The deadline for responding to the consultation is 28th February.

The consultation is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/night-flight-restrictions-at-gatwick-heathrow-and-stansted

A HACAN Briefing on the consultation is available at  http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Night-Flight-Consultation-2017-HACAN-Briefing-2.pdf

To read the HACAN Briefing if you want to just do a quick response: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Consultations-at-a-glance.pdf

Consultation on Airspace Policy Launched

This is a hugely important national document which was launched on 2nd February, the same day as the National Policy Statement.  The two consultations run in parallel.  It covers key topics like airspace changes; respite; new metrics for measuring noise annoyance; and the setting up of an Independent Noise Authority.

In HACAN’s view this document contains a lot of positive proposals. Read our briefing: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Airspace-Policy-Consultation-Briefing.pdf

To read the HACAN Briefing if you want to just do a quick response: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Consultations-at-a-glance.pdf

Consultation on 3rd Runway Launched

On 2nd February 2017 the Department launched its consultation on a third runway at Heathrow.  It comes in the form of a National Policy Statement.  It will be a 16 week consultation.  In the paper the Government stresses its belief that a third runway is required to improve connectivity to countries across the world but it has outlined a series of challenging measures that Heathrow will need to take if it is to get the go-ahead.

At the end of the year or early next year Parliament will vote on the National Policy Statement.  Only if Parliament approves it will a 3rd runway officially become Government policy.

After that Heathrow will need to submit detailed plans to a Planning Inquiry.  It does not expect to get approval until at least 2020.

To read the DfT’s media briefing outlining the key features of the consultation paper:  http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DfT-consultation-press-release-1.pdf

To read HACAN’s press release: http://wp.me/p5NPQ9-YP

To read the HACAN Briefing to assist you respond the the consultation: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/National-Policy-Statement-Briefing.pdf

To read the HACAN Briefing if you want to just do a quick response: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Consultations-at-a-glance.pdf

A HACAN Briefing on the January 2017 night Flights Consultation:  http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Night-Flight-Consultation-2017-HACAN-Briefing.pdf  (pdf)