‘More noise pollution for west London’ as Government promises quicker flights

Photograph Lucinda MacPherson

Largest redesign of UK airspace since the 1950s announced as part of the Government’s Plan for Change

The Department for Transport has set out new laws to open up new and more direct air travel routes.

The changes laid before Parliament on Monday (2 June) will enable the largest redesign of UK airspace since it was first formed in the 1950s, which the Government says will lead to shorter journey times, fewer delays and more flights for passengers.

The changes will ‘propel airport expansion and turbocharge growth as part of the Plan for Change … delivering a boost for innovation and jobs’.

Plans will “expose even more communities to noise and air pollution”

The environmental group Friends of the Earth say it will “expose even more communities to noise and air pollution”.

Rosie Downes, head of campaigns at environmental group Friends of the Earth, said:

“What’s needed is fewer flights, not more – and planned expansion at Heathrow and Gatwick, which the government has said it’s ‘minded to approve’, would lead to hundreds more flights every day.

“It’s also likely that redesigning flight paths will expose even more communities to noise and air pollution, putting their physical health and wellbeing at risk.”

The Government counters by arguing residents ‘could enjoy quieter take-offs’.

‘Redesigned skyways could allow planes to climb quicker during take-off and descend more smoothly, reducing noise and air pollution for residents who live along flight routes.’

The legislation introduced a new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS), which should be fully operational by the end of this year, but changes to the airspace over London are not expected until the 2030s.

Tim Alderslade, the head of trade body Airlines UK, told the BBC the changes to UK airspace were “long overdue”.

“We look forward to working with ministers and all parts of UK aviation to complete a once in a generation infrastructure programme as quickly as possible and ideally by the end of the decade,” he added.

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