The Evening Standard reports that London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has slammed Heathrow Airport after proposed spending on “noise reduction” was drastically cut. Around 6,500 local homes could be affected by the noise from additional flights if and when a third runway at Heathrow becomes operational. The disclosures are contained in over 70 pieces of written evidence to the House of Commons transport select committee on the proposed expansion.
The airport had proposed spending £241 million on double glazing, loft insulation and erecting walls – but this has been severely cut to just £52 million. Airport chiefs have blamed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for being forced to cut the noise insulation budget, while insisting that a ban on night flights would be “enhanced” rather than diluted.
Heathrow also promised to implement the noise reduction measures for local residents over the next 20 years – but a submission by local forum the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group has warned that local residents could wait a century for noise protection.
The CAA said: “The consultation on Heathrow’s pricing arrangements proposed broadly retaining existing levels of noise insulation expenditure.”
Hacan, a campaign body for residents near Heathrow, takes the view that: “There is a strong argument that… a good corporate neighbour would just use shareholder money to invest in [it].”
Khan warned that the number of night flights will double if the third runway gets the go-ahead. The draft expansion policy statement suggested a six-and-a-half hour ban within the hours of 11pm and 7am. It is said that airlines already operate under voluntary agreements that mean flights are rare between these hours. [Simply untrue – see below.]
Khan said that a loophole in the proposed night flight ban would be put in place for the third runway to operate. He argued that formalising the ban risks flights being rescheduled to the hours immediately before or after the ban, meaning airlines could compress their schedules, doubling night flights by packing them into either the early morning or late night windows. A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We have proposed enhancements to our night flight ban, already the strictest in Europe.”
Readers should also note that published simultaneously is A Strategic Vision for Transport to
an Expanded Heathrow Airport. This is couched in general terms with responsibility being placed on promoters. This is an area on which local residents will have to keep a close eye. It is to be expected that promoters will seek to expand locally on the use of existing, already over-committed, road and rail facilities, probably without any central government financial support for additional infrastructure.
What is clear is that neither the Government nor the agencies supporting the expansion of Heathrow are to be trusted. Business interests rather than residents’ health and welfare predominate.
The night flight ban: statements are nonsense. As local residents know only too well flights arrive at any time after 430 am. And they are the rule not the exception.
Noise expenditure: who do you believe, the CAA or evidence that Heathrow could cut costs by nearly £200m?
Noise reduction : a plan to implement measures over the next 20 years! Clearly a plan based on mortality rates.
You can express your views via email to:
Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement: consultation on proposed amendments published on 18 June 2026. The deadline for response is 1 September 2026
