Heathrow expansion would undermine hard-earned progress on air quality, warns London Assembly

Heathrow’s expansion plans would undermine progress made on air quality in London, conflict with the capital’s climate goals and expose residents to “harmful” levels of noise, a City Hall cross-party committee has said.

The airport’s proposals, which could increase the annual number of flights from 480,000 to 756,000, are gaining significant momentum, with a scheme put forward by Heathrow Airport Holdings adopted by the government last month.

The London Assembly Environment Committee have now written to the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to raise concerns over the impact of a third runway – initially greenlighted by ministers earlier this year – on both noise and air pollution.

In a letter to Heidi Alexander, the cross-party group – with the exception of Reform UK assembly member Keith Prince – said the impact of aircraft noise from London’s multiple airports is “already too great” without further expansion.

“The committee believes that a new runway at Heathrow would undermine progress made in London on air quality, reversing recent improvements, conflict with London and the UK’s climate goals, and expose many more Londoners to harmful levels of aircraft noise, with negative implications for health, wellbeing, and London’s green spaces.”

Heidi Alexander previously opposed expansion

The letter also refers to Alexander’s previous opposition to the expansion when she was London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport.

They have asked the Transport Secretary to set out how the Department of Transport's four “tests” for the expansion – air quality, climate impacts, noise levels and adequate consultation of Londoners – will be measured before pushing on with the expansion.

The committee also recommended that the government consider “caps on overall flight numbers” to keep down carbon emissions.

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Would reverse recent improvements in air quality

In October Christina Calderato, Director of Strategy at Transport for London (TfL), told the Environment Committee that a third runway would undo the recent improvement in air quality in the capital.

“We have a number of serious concerns around noise, carbon emissions and air quality – we’ve done a lot in London to improve air quality, and we don’t want to see those gains used as headroom for the Heathrow expansion,” she said.

Committee chair Leonie Cooper, a Labour Assembly Member, added: “The proposed expansion for Heathrow Airport raises a number of serious environmental concerns.

“Experts highlighted the risk that an expansion could reverse the recent improvements to air quality through schemes such as the ULEZ for example.

“As London works towards the Mayor’s target of significantly reducing carbon emissions in the city, we heard that the expansion goes against this target.

“Whilst government has announced its support for Heathrow’s plans, it is vital the environmental impacts are mitigated as much as possible.

“This includes government ensuring the appropriate tests are in place to monitor the impact on London’s air quality, on noise and for targets for no additional air quality impacts from airports.”

Mayor remains opposed

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The Mayor remains opposed to a third runway at Heathrow Airport because of the severe impact it will have in terms of noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.

“He remains unconvinced that a new Heathrow runway can deliver hundreds of thousands of additional flights every year without a hugely detrimental impact on our environment.

“City Hall will carefully scrutinise the Heathrow expansion proposals chosen to inform the Airports National Policy Statement review – including their impact on people living in the area, and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure, which would require a comprehensive and costed plan to manage.

“The Mayor will keep all options on the table in how we respond.”

Last month ministers selected plans proposed by Heathrow Airport that would involve a new 3.5 km long runway and a new road tunnel under the airport. This would involve moving the M25 motorway.

A Department for Transport spokesperson told the LDRS: “We have been clear any airport expansion must be in line with environmental targets and that’s why we’re currently reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement to ensure our four tests on climate, air quality, noise and economic growth are met.

“We’re also modernising flight paths to deliver quicker, quieter, and cleaner flights, benefiting both passengers and those living under flight path, with affected communities to be fully consulted on proposed changes.”

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