A new runway at Heathrow would allow the airport to grow from around 475,000 to 740,000 flights every year, highlights a report on aircraft noise from the environment committee. This would create new flight paths and affect around 200,000 more people with noise disturbance than a two runway equivalent airport, it claims.

The committee calls for a halt on all air traffic growth at Heathrow – as well as at the growing London City Airport – and says that the proposed third runway at Heathrow should not go ahead.

“The experiences of residents living with the daily nightmare of overhead noise are deeply worrying,” said London Assembly environment committee chair Caroline Russell.

The report comes following evidence given by residents living beneath flight paths, who complained to the committee of a ‘chorus of disruption’ from aircraft that continues well after children’s bed times.

“There are significant health impacts that follow from an inability to sleep, relax and concentrate,” added Caroline Russell. “This drive towards filling airspace capacity must be checked.”

Further recommendations in the report include more stringent regulation of noise disturbance, rotation of flight paths to give respite for those living under concentrated routes, a ban on night flights and an end, where possible, to ‘stacking’ whereby aircraft circle before coming in to land.

A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said: “We are reassured that concerns outlined in this report are currently being examined as part of our plans and ongoing consultation with local communities.

“With expansion, we will be able to guarantee predictable periods of respite for 100% of our local communities – something that cannot be achieved today – and will introduce a scheduled night flight ban, set to be one of world’s strictest.

“With these measures in place, as well as a £700M noise insulation scheme for local residents, we will be able to limit and, where possible, reduce the effects of noise on health and quality of life.”

Also responding to the recommendations, a spokesman for air navigation service provider NATS said: “Modernising our airspace, and how it is used, will help to reduce the impact air traffic has on communities and the environment.”

This comes after the Government committed to airspace modernisation – including making use of technology to help aircraft fly more efficiently – in an Aviation Strategy Green Paper at the end of 2018.

“We continue to work with local communities to strike the right balance between their interests and benefits of aviation in terms of trade and leisure connectivity,” added the NATS spokesman.

(Photograph: Matt Kieffer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)