Noise pollution and air quality concerns are among the numerous complaints lodged with Solihull Council over Birmingham Airport’s proposal for increased night time flights. Despite these objections, council officers are recommending that planners approve the proposal next week.
As previously reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), BHX claims that the airport’s post-pandemic growth has prompted this application, warning that without changes, the West Midlands region could miss out on millions of pounds.
The current arrangement permits no more than 4,000 flights at night per year, based on an annual restriction of five per cent of total air traffic movements – take-offs or landings – occurring at night.
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Nighttime hours are defined as 11.30pm to 6am, and the five per cent is calculated from the busiest financial year for flights in the past five years. However, BHX forecasts 7,227 flights this financial year (7.6 per cent), 7,528 flights in 2025/26 (7.3 per cent), and 7,600 flights in 2026/27 (7 per cent).
The airport seeks to amend its section 106 agreement with the authority to increase the cap on nighttime movements to an average of 7.3 per cent per year, with a suggested cap of 7.6 per cent.
Solihull Council’s planning committee received a robust appraisal from officers suggesting: “The evidence indicates that the proposed changes would have a very substantial benefit both to the local and regional economy. Maintaining or reducing the cap would have a significant consequence and impact on the economic contribution the airport has on the local and regional economy.”, reports Birmingham Live.
The report confidently added: “No adverse impacts have been identified which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant benefits.”
Additionally, officials emphasised that all objections have been carefully considered. During the consultation period, 243 objections surfaced including those from the parish councils of Balsall Common, Barston, Berkswell, Bickenhill and Marston Green, Dickens Heath, and Hampton in Arden, alongside a petition with 642 signatures opposing the proposal.
The final verdict on the proposal is expected to be delivered at the forthcoming planning committee meeting on Wednesday, January 8.
Those interested can attend the meeting, set for a 6pm start, or tune into the live broadcast via solihull.gov.uk.