Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Deferred
Include specific noise pollution targets for flights within updated Airports National Policy Statement
Recommendation
The Government should ensure that it is actively working to minimise and mitigate all impacts of noise pollution on relevant populations caused through flying. It should also include a target, within the new ANPS, on the level of acceptable noise from flights both individually and cumulatively. The Government should set out this target in the response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government entirely deflects the recommendation on noise pollution mitigation and setting noise targets in the ANPS by discussing its use of carbon markets (UK ETS, CORSIA) to drive CO2 decarbonisation in the aviation sector.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
As part of the ANPS review, DfT is considering how the Government’s four tests for Heathrow expansion, including for noise, should be set. The review is considering changes in legislation, policy and data since the ANPS was designated in 2018, including the most up-to-date evidence on the noise impacts of aviation. The mitigations for noise impacts will be determined as part of the review process, and if any amendments are made to the existing ANPS, they will be subject to consultation in summer 2026. As set out in response to Recommendation 3, the Government is also reviewing, and updating as necessary, the existing Appraisal of Sustainability, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Health Impact Analysis, and Equalities Impact Analysis, in line with any amendments made to the ANPS. These assessments also consider noise impacts, and include mitigations and proposed monitoring, and will be subject to consultation alongside any amended ANPS. As noted above, any promoter would need to demonstrate how a scheme complies with the requirements set in the ANPS as part of its DCO application for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗