Greenwich Council has criticised London City Airport’s plans to expand after the government allowed it to host more flights and passengers – but neighbouring Lewisham has said the plans have “clear economic benefits”.
The deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, and the transport secretary Louise Haigh approved the plans on Monday, which would allow it to handle nine million passengers each year, up from its current limit of six and a half million.
It will also be allowed to operate more early morning flights, up from six to nine between 6.30am and 7am.
But a ban on Saturday afternoon flights will remain in place. No flights have been allowed between 12.30pm on Saturdays and 1pm on Sundays to give neighbours respite from noise.
Bosses at the airport, in the Royal Docks and only a short distance from the Greenwich Peninsula, Charlton, Woolwich and Thamesmead, had promised to use only the quietest jets.
The ministers stepped in after Newham Council rejected the airport’s plans outright. A public inquiry was held after the airport appealed against Newham’s decision.
Both Greenwich and Lewisham councils had opposed the expansion, along with Newham and all its neighbouring boroughs.
Greenwich Council said that even without extra weekend flights, it was still unhappy with the plans. “London City Airport’s plans are at odds with our climate strategy and our desire to reach carbon zero by 2030,” a spokesperson told The Greenwich Wire.
“While we welcome the government’s decision not to extend the airport’s operating hours on a Saturday, we know our residents will still be concerned about the noise and environmental impact caused by more passengers and more flights.”
Neighbouring Lewisham, which lies underneath the flightpath, was happier about the decision.
Louise Krupski, the cabinet member for environment, transport and climate action told The Greenwich Wire: “We are thrilled that the government has listened to our community’s concerns and refused London City Airport permission to operate planes on Saturday afternoons.
“The expansion plans have clear economic benefits, but it is important that we continue to work with the government to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution for Lewisham residents and ensure London’s ability to reach net zero by 2030 remains at the forefront of policymaking.”
Newham’s elected mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, said keeping the restrictions on weekend flights was “a major win” but added: “I remain deeply concerned by the decision to allow additional morning flights during the week and the potential impacts of the increase in passenger numbers.
“I am also concerned about the climate implications of the decision. Newham Council’s Just Transition Plan sets out our journey to Net Zero by 2030 recognising the unequal impacts of climate change on our communities who pay the highest costs for climate adaptation. I would urge the government to reconsider its approach to airports and climate change.”
At City Hall, which lies right underneath City Airport’s take-offs, Sadiq Khan said he was “concerned” about the decision.
A spokesperson told MyLondon: “The mayor has a long-standing position on airport expansion in London linked to the negative impact on air quality, noise and London’s ability to reach net zero by 2030.
“The mayor welcomes that the Government has said it intends to implement a number of measures to mitigate noise, including the retention of the curfew period for flights, but he remains concerned about the overall impact that expansion will have on the local area.”
The airport’s chief executive, Alison FitzGerald, said it welcomed the government’s decision but said that restricting Saturday flights would “slow down airlines bringing cleaner, quieter next generation aircraft to the airport”.
She added: “Local residents would have had the added benefit of these aircraft operating at the airport throughout the week, not just in the extended operating hours.”
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