Noise pollution causing a lack of sleep and air quality concerns are among the hundreds of complaints that have flooded into Solihull Council over Birmingham Airport’s plan for more nighttime flights. But despite the complaints council officers are recommending planners give the go-ahead next week.
As the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) previously reported BHX says the growth of the airport post-pandemic has led to its application and if no changes are made the West Midlands region could lose out on millions of pounds. The current arrangement allows for no more than 4,000 flights at night a year.
This is based on an annual restriction of five per cent of the total air traffic movements – the taking off or landing of an aircraft from the airport – to take place at night. Night time hours are defined as 11.30pm to 6am and the five per cent is calculated from the busiest financial year for flights of the past five years.
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But BHX says its forecasts are for 7,227 flights in this financial year (7.6 per cent); 7,528 flights between 2025/26 (7.3 per cent) and 7,600 flights in 2026/27 (7 per cent). The airport wants to change its section 106 agreement with the authority so the cap on night time movements is raised to an average of 7.3 per cent a year, with an indicative cap of 7.6 per cent.
In the report to Solihull Council’s planning committee, officers say: “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.
“No adverse impacts have been identified which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant benefits.” Officers stress that they have taken all objections to the proposal into consideration.
There were 243 objections during the consultation including the parish councils of Balsall Common, Barston, Berkswell, Bickenhill and Marston Green, Dickens Heath, and Hampton in Arden. A 642-strong petition against the plan was also submitted to the council.
Objections include:
- Time to put the well-being of local residents before local economics and profit-making
- People have the right to quietness when trying to sleep
- Many airports in Europe have banned night flights
- Decrease in property value
- Vibration and structural damage will increase
- The smell of kerosene will be increased by the number of aircraft
In October, the LDRS visited a Sheldon housing estate, which is a short walk away from the tourist destination spot of Birmingham Airport’s viewing platform. Residents there had told us they were not overly concerned as they were so used to planes flying over and were able to blank out the noise when they slept.
A decision is set to be made at the next meeting of the planning committee on Wednesday, January 8. The meeting, which is open to the public, begins at 6pm and is also available to watch live on the council’s website solihull.gov.uk.