Heathrow expansion

The main cause of air pollution is not the aircraft emissions but the surface traffic in the Heathrow and West London. HAL proposes establishing an airside ultra-low emission zone. This is designed to improve community health through cleaner air, for example in the Ivers parish area, which has poor air quality. Heathrow is committed to being carbon net zero by 2050.

The government has pledged that 50% of airport passenger journeys would be made by public and sustainable transport by 2030, supporting no more airport-related cars on the road, so local areas could thrive without increased traffic.

To achieve this, Buckinghamshire Council and other transport bodies would need to agree a programme of investment by government and HAL in rail links, and public transport.

The significant increase in the number of air traffic movements would increase the level of aircraft noise on residents impacting their quality of life, productivity of businesses and the tranquillity of parks and public spaces.

The council is pushing for a minimal effect on new populations and business. This principle has been agreed with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and will guide the design of airspace and flight paths over the county. We have also requested that periods of relief from aircraft noise should be applied equally across all affected populations.

The impact on the surrounding environment by HAL will include:

• landscape character and visual impacts
• biodiversity and ecological condition
• flooding and water quality
• historic environment
• land use

The council has successfully turned down proposals to build in Buckinghamshire as part of Heathrow expansion. This protects Green Belt land and the communities that use the parks and footpaths in them from development.