Heathrow

Overview

This page provides an overview of the government's current policy, actions we have taken and ways residents can have their say on issues relating to the airport and its expansion.

Keep up to date with our latest news stories relating to Heathrow.

You can also read our list of key facts about Heathrow expansion and find out more information on the local impacts.

Expansion and the third runway plan

Government policy on Heathrow Airport has evolved through a series of commissions, consultations and legal challenges. Beginning in 2012, the Airports Commission was established to assess options for maintaining the UK’s role as a global aviation hub, leading in 2015 to its recommendation for a new northwest runway at Heathrow to increase annual flight capacity.

The government confirmed this direction in 2016 with the Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), and between 2018 and 2019 Heathrow held multiple public consultations on expansion proposals, covering runway design, terminal infrastructure, airspace changes, and operational procedures. The NPS was formally designated in 2018, providing the legal framework for a third runway, although subsequent legal challenges and shifting climate commitments created headwinds.

From 2020 to 2024, all expansion activity was paused after we and a group of partner organisations successfully challenged the government’s strategy in the Court of Appeal, on the grounds that it failed to meet climate targets. This decision was later overturned by the Supreme Court, which found the policy lawful based on the climate commitments in place at the time.

Latest developments

In June 2026, the government published a draft revised Airports National Policy Statement, renamed the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement. This would set the planning framework for deciding any future application for a Northwest Runway at Heathrow. It does not grant planning permission, but it would strongly shape how any future Development Consent Order application is assessed.

The draft policy statement is focused on a Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow, with associated terminal infrastructure, surface access works and changes to the road and rail network. Heathrow expansion could enable around 260,000 additional flights a year, increasing the airport’s capacity significantly.

The draft policy also proposes to designate Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure. We are concerned that this would give excessive weight to expansion in the planning process before the full local environmental, health and community impacts have been properly assessed.

You can respond to the consultation on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (GOV.UK).

Residents will also be able to share their views and help shape the Council's response at our forthcoming Community Conversation event on Heathrow, which will be held on Thursday 23 July 2026.

Our position

We remain firmly opposed to Heathrow expansion. We are concerned that the draft policy gives too much weight to expansion and not enough protection to communities already affected by aircraft noise, air pollution and congestion. We are particularly concerned about the potential for reduced noise respite, increased or concentrated flight paths, insufficient night-flight protections, worsening air quality, higher carbon emissions and increased pressure on local and strategic transport networks.

The draft policy proposes four tests on air quality, noise, climate change and economic growth, but we do not believe these are strong enough. We are also concerned by the proposal to designate Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure, which could give expansion excessive weight in the planning process before local environmental, health and community impacts have been properly assessed.

We will respond formally to the government consultation and continue working with neighbouring councils, MPs, community groups and the No 3rd Runway Coalition to oppose expansion and press for stronger protections for residents. Residents can respond to the consultation until 11.59pm on 1 September 2026.

See:

February 2026 Special Standing Committee meeting

At its February 2026 session, the Council’s Special Standing Committee on Heathrow reviewed Heathrow’s latest expansion proposals and the government’s decision to restart the national policy process. Information presented confirmed that Heathrow’s plans remain largely unchanged, including runway construction, major terminal expansions and mixed mode options.

Through the meeting, the Council restated its clear opposition to expansion, committed to robust engagement with government departments and pledged intensified collaboration with neighbouring authorities and the No Third Runway Coalition. The committee also heard from community groups regarding the environmental, noise and air quality impacts of expansion, which will inform our engagement in the forthcoming ANPS consultation.

Heathrow operational issues

Details of operational issues affecting residents.

Airspace modernisation

Work is ongoing to modernise how the airspace around Heathrow is used, including changes to flightpaths, alternation patterns and routes to improve safety and efficiency. This work had initially been led by Heathrow Airport, however in 2025 the government created a new body, the UK Airspace Design Service, to takeover all UK airspace modernisation. UKADS is expected to resume work on Heathrow airspace modernisation in 2026, with consultation on proposals to follow at some point.

We had previously called on Heathrow to publish a clear timetable for consultation, provide a 'do minimum' option, and justify any preferred option that differs from it. We also expect any modernisation to protect key environmental assets such as Richmond Park, and not to result in increased aircraft movements.

Most of the time, Heathrow operates on westerly operations due to the wind direction. This means one runway is used for landing and one for take-offs. However, at times when the prevailing wind is from the east, Heathrow changes to easterly operations, meaning planes approach over Windsor to land and take off towards London. Easterly operations are used approximately 30% of the time over the course of the year, however the proportion varies, with easterly winds and operations more likely to occur in late spring. Information on the percentage of time used for westerly and easterly operations is available on a monthly basis from the Heathrow Airport’s operational data webpage.

The Cranford Agreement was a verbal agreement established in 1952 which meant that aircraft could not take off over the village of Cranford in Hounslow. Following the end of the Cranford Agreement in response to long standing community concerns about unpredictability, Heathrow is proposing alternating easterly runway operations. The London Borough of Hillingdon granted planning approval for required infrastructure changes in December 2025. Previous estimates suggested that it could take up to two years for works to be completed, with no start date for works currently published.

We support efforts to improve predictable respite and are working with Heathrow and neighbouring authorities to assess impacts on communities. We will update residents when Heathrow launches its consultation on easterly alternation.

Runway resurfacing

Heathrow periodically resurfaces its runways. Works on the Northern runway, originally intended to conclude in 2025, are now expected to continue through spring 2026. This changes night time runway patterns, affecting communities depending on the direction of operations. While the Northern runway is being resurfaced those living under the flightpath for the Southern runway will experience more night-time aircraft noise than usual. This is reversed when the Southern runway is being replaced.

We continue to monitor impacts on local communities and press Heathrow for clear communication about works, timelines and expected night time noise impacts. Find out more about Heathrow's runway resurfacing process.

Night flights

The government sets night flight restrictions at Heathrow. Currently, only a limited number of flights are allowed to take off between 11.30pm and 6am.

The government consulted in 2024 on a new regime for night flights. It has also commissioned a study of the impact of night flights on sleep disturbance and noise. This survey is being conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and it is anticipated to be published in 2026. The government recently confirmed a 'bridging regime' to October 2028, keeping current limits unchanged while awaiting further evidence, including the forthcoming noise study.

We have repeatedly opposed night flights and continue to lobby Government to reduce the number of permitted night flights and to ensure emerging evidence on health and sleep disturbance shapes the future regime. Find out more on our key facts about night flights page.

Noise complaints

Aviation noise is not legally a statutory nuisance under UK law, meaning local authorities do not have the legal power to take action on matters of aircraft noise and cannot handle any complaints relating to this.

While we cannot formally intervene, we direct residents to Heathrow’s own complaints system and provide tools to help residents identify aircraft routes and noise patterns, including Webtrak and Heathrow’s YourArea mapping tool.

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Updated: 13 July 2026