The Hillingdon Planning Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss planning applications, with a focus on a proposal from Heathrow Airport regarding enabling works for runway alternation, and a separate application concerning residential development on High Street in Northwood. The committee will also look at the minutes from their previous meeting.

Heathrow Airport Expansion

The Hillingdon Planning Committee is scheduled to review an application from Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) for enabling works to allow the implementation of full runway alternation during easterly operations at Heathrow Airport. These works, subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), include:

• Creating a new 'hold area' at the western end of the northern runway
• Constructing new access and exit taxiways
• Building an acoustic noise barrier south of Longford Village
• Establishing temporary construction compounds

The planning officers' report recommends that the committee grant planning permission, subject to a Section 106 agreement and conditions.

Background

The report pack explains that Heathrow Airport operates either on 'easterly' or 'westerly' operations, depending on wind conditions, with westerly operations occurring approximately 70% of the time. Runway alternation, which provides respite for local communities, occurs during westerly operations but not during easterly operations due to the Cranford Agreement, established in the 1950s. This agreement, which prevented aircraft from taking off over Cranford, ended in January 2009, but full runway alternation during easterly operations has not yet been implemented because physical works are required. The proposed works aim to provide new runway access taxiways to enable regular departures on the northern runway (Runway 09L) and arrivals on the southern runway (Runway 09R) during easterly operations. The report pack notes that the proposed development does not relate to any increase in passenger numbers, or alter the 480,000 air traffic movement cap set as part of the Terminal 5 planning consent.

Key Issues

The main adverse impacts of introducing Easterly Alternation relate to noise and air pollution.

Noise

The report pack states that the proposed development facilitates a change in the pattern of aircraft movements during easterly operations, specifically, an increase in the number of aircraft departing to the east on the northern runway and arriving on the southern runway. This would result in changes in the noise environment around the airport. The submitted Environmental Statement includes assumptions and baseline data that have been reviewed by an independent noise specialist. The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) sets the framework for managing noise impacts, aiming to avoid significant adverse effects, mitigate impacts, and improve quality of life. Key thresholds include:

• LOAEL (Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level): Point where noise begins to cause measurable harm.
• SOAEL (Significant Observed Adverse Effect Level): Higher threshold requiring strong mitigation. The report pack notes that there is no adopted land use planning policy document that sets a confirmed level for either LOAEL or SOAEL, but that this application presents LOAEL at 51 dB LAeq,16hr and SOAEL at 63 dB LAeq,16hr, and that these threshold levels have been accepted for the purpose of this application. The report pack also notes that the introduction of Easterly Alternation would result in approximately 62,100 people benefitting from reduced noise, while 39,600 would experience an increase, and that it has been predicted that 15,400 people would face moderate adverse effects (>3 dB above LOAEL).

Air Pollution

The report pack states that the site lies within an Air Quality Management Area and a designated Air Quality Focus Area, where air quality concerns are already significant. The proposed change in aircraft movements at ground level would alter the distribution of air pollution, introducing greater pollution in some areas, with reduced air pollution in others. The increase in air pollution would most notably be to the village of Longford. The report pack notes that the council's Air Quality Specialist raised concerns regarding the omission of sensitive receptors and lack of ultrafine particle (UFP) assessment, and that HAL responded by confirming that in their view the air quality impacts are negligible. The local planning authority's position is that the impacts of the development are not insignificant, and that the development must aim for air quality neutrality.

Mitigation Proposals

The report pack states that HAL have proposed Noise and Air Quality Mitigation packages which officers consider to be broadly appropriate. The headline details of the mitigation packages have been set out as the proposed Heads of Terms for Members of Planning Committee to consider. These include:

• An updated noise assessment
• Noise mitigation for residential properties in categories A, B, C, D1 and D2
• Schools insulation
• Enhancement of Berkeley Meadows, Avenue Park and Cranford Park
• Monitoring of ground noise and vibration levels
• Temporary rehousing
• An air quality contribution to mitigate air quality impacts in Longford
• An Ultrafine Particles (UFP) Monitoring and Action Plan
• Noise barrier maintenance
• An Employment/Construction Training Scheme
• A Project Management and Monitoring Fee

Other Considerations

The report pack also refers to other considerations including:

• Relevant planning history
• Planning policy
• Consultations and representations
• Design, siting and layout
• Landscape and visual impact assessment
• Historic environment
• Biodiversity and ecology
• Residential amenity
• Accessibility
• Security
• Flood risk
• Transport
• Airport safeguarding
• Land contamination
• Fire safety
• Sustainability
• Human rights
• Equality
• Local finance considerations and CIL
• Habitats Regulations – Appropriate Assessment

Residential Development, 78 High Street, Northwood

The Hillingdon Planning Committee is also scheduled to discuss an application for a residential development at 78 High Street, Northwood. The application, submitted by Ms and Mr Jones, seeks full planning permission for:

• Demolition of existing rear workshop buildings (Use Class E¹)
• Construction of 2 self-contained flats and 1 dwellinghouse (Use Class C3²)
• Associated private amenity space, landscaping, cycle and refuse storage
• Alterations and a two-storey rear extension to the existing building, including internal layout changes to the first-floor residential flat and the installation of a rear dormer window

The planning officers' report recommends that the committee grant planning permission, subject to conditions.

Background

The report pack explains that the site is located on the eastern side of the High Street within Northwood Town Centre, and comprises a two-storey semi-detached property with a ground floor retail unit, a first floor 2-bedroom residential unit, and a number of rear single-storey outbuildings used as a workshop. The site lies in the Old Northwood Area of Special Local Character, the Northwood East Air Quality Focus Area and is within a Critical Drainage Area.

Key Issues

The report pack notes that a petition with 58 signatures in objection to the development was received in response to the initial consultation and another petition with 22 signatures in objection to the development was received following re-consultation on amended plans. Eleven separate representations have also been received in objection to the proposal, as well as objections from the Northwood Residents Association and a local Ward Councillor. The main concerns raised within the representations include:

• Land ownership and boundary accuracy
• The inclusion of car parking on public pavement (and the subsequent lack of parking associated with the scheme following the amendments received)
• Potential overdevelopment of the site
• The impact on the existing ground floor retail unit at 78 High Street

The report pack states that key planning considerations include:

• The impact of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, including the Old Northwood Area of Special Local Character
• The quality of accommodation for future occupiers
• The impact on neighbouring residential amenity
• Highways and parking
• Environmental considerations such as flood risk, sustainability and contamination

The report pack notes that following the submission of amended plans, the application now proposes a car-free development with a corrected site boundary and design amendments that address earlier concerns raised by Planning Officers.

Design and Character

The report pack states that the proposed development would replicate the general siting of existing structures, and that the proposed built form would sit comfortably within the established context and would not appear incongruous or out of character. The report pack also notes that the proposed scheme introduces an enhanced landscaping strategy, which was absent from the previously refused application.

Highways and Parking

The report pack states that the Council's Highways Officer raises no objection to the car-free nature of the development, noting its sustainable town centre location with good access to public transport and local facilities.

Residential Amenity

The report pack states that the proposed development would provide a good standard of amenity and accommodation for future occupiers.

Other Considerations

The report pack also refers to other considerations including:

• Relevant planning history
• Planning policy
• Consultations and representations
• Trees and landscaping
• Flood risk
• Waste management
• Sustainability
• Human rights
• Equality