Heathrow expansion consultation guide for Richmond residents

Heathrow’s consultation covers its expansion proposals, including how a three-runway airport would operate. This guide helps Richmond residents find the relevant information and prepare a response about the issues that matter to them.

If you prefer not to read every document or answer every survey question you can focus on the issues that affect you and respond by email or post instead of completing the survey.

Important: this consultation does not decide future flight paths. You can still comment on respite, night flights, how Heathrow assesses impacts and the proposed controls.

Getting started

1. Read the overview. Start with the Consultation Summary for Heathrow’s main proposals and consultation questions.
2. Understand the proposal. Look at how a three-runway airport would operate, including respite and night flights.
3. Check the likely effects. Focus on noise, health and transport, alongside climate or the local environment if these matter to you.
4. Review the safeguards. Look at proposed noise limits, monitoring, insulation, transport controls and community funding.
5. Give your response. Explain what matters locally, what evidence you think is missing and the protection or change you want.

Where to find the documents

Start at Heathrow’s consultation page.

The Main consultation documents section includes the Consultation Summary and Feedback Form. Supporting Information contains the detailed evidence.

Richmond does not have an “In Your Area” booklet, so use the relevant topic documents to explore local concerns.

Useful sections and documents include:

• Future Runway Operations: respite, night flights and early growth.
• Environmental information: aircraft noise, health, air quality, climate and the local environment.
• Transport Parts 6–8: public transport, roads and proposed monitoring and controls.
• Environmentally Managed Growth: information to review alongside the proposed safeguards and controls.

Issues for Richmond residents

Aircraft noise and respite

More flights and different runway operating patterns could change where and when people experience aircraft noise. Heathrow is also proposing early growth of up to 25,000 additional flights before a third runway opens. Heathrow proposes a scheduled night-flight ban, but early arrivals could land from about 5.15am. Exact routes are not yet known.

In your response: describe when aircraft affect you, the quiet periods you value and the protection you want.

Health and wellbeing

Richmond falls within Heathrow’s wider health study, but there is limited local detail on sleep, annoyance, stress and vulnerable residents.

In your response: give local examples and ask for a health assessment that covers Richmond in more detail.

Roads and public transport

Heathrow forecasts possible changes on the A316, A205, local junctions and bus routes, along with additional demand on rail and Underground services.

In your response: name the road, junction, bus route or rail service you use and ask what measures Heathrow will put in place before impacts occur.

Air quality and climate

Extra road traffic may affect local air quality. Most Heathrow carbon emissions come from flights, but the proposed managed-growth system would not cap aviation carbon.

In your response: ask for local traffic evidence and legally enforceable carbon commitments.

Parks and the local environment

Relevant places include Kew World Heritage Site and Richmond Park. There is no full local assessment of tranquillity in parks, commons and the river corridor.

In your response: name the places you value and ask for local assessment and monitoring.

Safeguards and compensation

Heathrow proposes noise controls, monitoring and community funding, but many limits, eligibility rules and enforcement arrangements are not final.

In your response: ask for clear thresholds, local monitoring, independent oversight and action before growth.

How to make a useful response

A short, specific response can be more useful than answering every question. You can use the following structure.

1. Say where and when. If you feel comfortable, identify your street, neighbourhood or a local landmark. Explain the time of day, how often the issue affects you and the impact on sleep, work, school, travel or outdoor space.
2. Explain your concern. Link your concern to more flights, respite, night operations, traffic or public transport. Separate what you experience today from what expansion may add, and say whether the evidence covers Richmond adequately.
3. Ask for a clear commitment. You could request local maps, modelling or published monitoring data. Ask for firm limits, timescales and independent oversight, including what should happen before further growth if limits are breached.

Phrases you can adapt

• “Please publish Richmond-level evidence on…”
• “Please protect predictable respite by…”
• “Please confirm who will monitor and enforce…”

How to send your response

You can choose the response method that suits you. You do not have to complete the online survey.

Online

Complete Heathrow’s online consultation survey.

By email

Send your comments to expansionconsultation@heathrow.com.

By post

Send your comments to FREEPOST EXPANSION CONSULTATION.