Agenda item

Becky Coffin (Director of Communities and Sustainability, Heathrow) and Danielle Knafo (Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Heathrow) were in attendance to present their report and respond to Members’ questions. Key points included:

 

• Heathrow’s pride in being part of the Hillingdon community and the strengthening partnership with the Council in recent years were highlighted.

 

• Three key areas of collaboration were focussed on: local partnership working, economic growth, and local impact.

 

Local Partnership Working

 

• It was noted that Heathrow had prioritised several initiatives over the past three years, notably addressing local parking concerns.

 

• A Local Parking Action Plan had been established, managed through a multi-stakeholder forum under the Heathrow Area Transport Group, with input from Hillingdon and other boroughs.

 

• Efforts included:

 

 

• Members heard that the Community Investment Partnership had been launched over two years previously with the Council, London Wildlife Trust, and British Airways.

 

 

 

• It was noted that Heathrow had sponsored the recent “Picnic in the Park” at Barra Hall Park, where over 750 plants had been distributed to local families by the Heathrow Rangers.

 

Role in Local Economic Growth

 

• It was confirmed that, in December of the previous year, Heathrow had announced a £2.3 billion infrastructure investment, focusing on:

 

 

• The Heathrow Local Growth Task Force had been established, involving Borough stakeholders, chambers of commerce, and business groups.

 

 

• It was noted that Heathrow had participated in the “Hillingdon Takes Off” event in February.

 

 

Addressing Local Impact

 

• The challenges of having an airport in the Borough were recognised and Heathrow’s commitment to listening and responding to community concerns was emphasised.

 

• On sustainable travel:

 

 

 

• On air quality:

 

 

 

• On noise:

 

 

 

 

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the recent power outage at Heathrow, it was recognised that it had been a difficult day for both the Borough and the airport, during which the airport had been closed due to a fire at the North Hyde substation. It was noted that the decision to close had been made to prioritise the safety of passengers and staff, and an apology was extended for the disruption caused. The successful recovery of operations was attributed to the efforts of the airport’s many partners.

 

Members heard that the Kelly Review, conducted independently by non-executive director Ruth Kelly, had recently been published. This review examined the airport’s preparedness and response to the incident. It concluded that the decisions made on the day had been appropriate and that safety had been effectively prioritised, with no injuries reported. It was noted that energy resilience remained a key part of the airport’s strategy, and that the response had been effective due to established crisis procedures.

 

The Committee was informed that the Kelly Review included around 20 recommendations aimed at strengthening future resilience. The airport team committed to implementing all of them and offered to share the published findings. It was acknowledged that some questions remained unanswered at the national level, particularly regarding the cause of the fire and the failure of all three transformers, with a final report expected later in the year.

 

Members sought further clarification regarding the impact of the Cranford Park Agreement. In response, the Director of Communities and Sustainability at Heathrow confirmed that the changes being referred to were related to the former Cranford Agreement, a government policy that had been dissolved approximately thirteen years earlier. Planning permission had been submitted to make ground infrastructure changes that would allow for runway alternation, enabling take-offs and landings in both directions on both runways. As part of this application to the Council, noise and air quality assessments and modelling had been carried out to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed changes. It was noted that mitigation measures had been proposed, including noise insulation for homes affected by new or increased noise levels. These proposals were under review by the Council’s planning team. The Committee heard that an existing network of air quality monitors was already in place in the area, which would provide relevant data to support ongoing assessments.

 

Councillors raised concerns about ongoing parking issues in the nearby area of Packet Boat Lane noting that increased parking charges had led to a rise in unregulated parking on private land in that area, with hundreds of cars being parked near a popular lake. Members enquired whether there was a way for Councillors to directly report such issues and for residents to engage with Heathrow on these matters.

 

In response, it was explained that Heathrow had set up a reporting portal the previous year. This portal allowed residents from any location to report nuisance parking believed to be linked to the airport. Reports submitted through the portal were reviewed by the service access team, who used the data to identify problem areas and coordinate responses with the Council and local police, including a dedicated officer. It was confirmed that a Community Relations Helpline was available via email or phone during working hours, for reporting broader issues not limited to parking. It was agreed that these contact options would be relayed to Members to be shared with residents.

 

Councillors expressed concern about the burden placed on the Council’s parking officers due to airport-related parking issues, particularly vehicles left for extended periods. They asked what Heathrow was doing beyond working with the police to support the Council and requested an example of a successful intervention.

 

In response, the Heathrow representatives acknowledged the issue and explained that they had funded enforcement in Hillingdon and other boroughs. They described efforts to address private hire vehicle parking through direct engagement, improvements to authorised vehicle areas, and communication with licensing authorities. The most effective measure cited was the implementation of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which had led to over 1,000 drivers being moved on, with few repeat offenders. Illegal parking operations were being addressed through collaboration with the Council and police, and public messaging discouraged the use of unapproved parking providers.

 

Members raised concerns about the smell and taste of aviation fuel in residential areas and asked whether anything could be done to prevent this. It was clarified that air quality monitoring showed aircraft emissions had minimal reach and that most pollution detected came from road traffic. It was explained that airspace modernisation, a government-led programme, would reduce aircraft stacking and associated emissions.

 

In response to a further question from the Committee regarding a bird hide facility and why it had not been advertised, given its potential value for school visits, it was noted that the facility had only recently opened. The Heathrow representatives committed to following up on opportunities for school engagement. They also mentioned other biodiversity sites and existing partnerships with local schools, offering to explore further outreach.

 

Members returned to the issue of unauthorised mass car parks and asked whether Heathrow had discussed funding support for residents affected by new parking permit charges. The Heathrow representatives stated that they were open to such discussions and emphasised their focus on addressing the root causes of the problem. They encouraged residents to report issues via the portal to ensure data-driven responses.

 

In response to further questions from the Committee, it was confirmed that noise monitoring extended under flight paths, and that new ground noise monitoring was being introduced in response to community feedback.

 

Councillors enquired whether the partnership between Heathrow and the Council had reached its full potential and what could be improved. The Heathrow representatives acknowledged progress but noted that parking remained a challenge. They highlighted community investment initiatives and encouraged Councillors to promote funding opportunities. They also discussed the Heathrow Skills and Employment Academy and the importance of making job opportunities more accessible to residents.

 

In response to questions about Heathrow’s zero waste objective and how much waste was recycled, the Committee heard that approximately 49% of waste was currently recycled, with a goal to increase this to 60–70% over the next 5–10 years. It was explained that construction and commercial waste were largely recyclable, but onboard catering waste had to be incinerated due to international regulations.

 

Councillors enquired about Heathrow’s business rates and whether the airport would be open to discussions with senior officers to ensure fair contributions. In response, it was confirmed that Heathrow was the largest business rates payer in the country. The Council’s Director of Strategic and Operational Finance clarified that valuations were set by the Valuation Office Agency, not the Council.

 

Members sought further clarification regarding Heathrow’s response to the Government’s recent announcement supporting a third runway. It was confirmed that a proposal was being prepared for submission by summer, reviewing previously paused plans, and considering necessary policy changes to meet the Government’s timeline.

 

Returning to parking, Councillor asked whether Heathrow would be willing to fund enforcement efforts more fairly, given the increasing burden on the Council. The Heathrow representatives were disappointed their efforts were not fully recognised and reiterated their commitment to enforcement and collaboration. They confirmed openness to further discussions and additional measures. The Director of Community Safety and Enforcement added that Heathrow had already funded additional enforcement deployments and that recent meetings had resulted in further funding commitments.

 

With regard to apprenticeship capacity and work experience opportunities at Heathrow, the Committee was informed that multiple apprenticeship schemes were in place, with 31 Hillingdon residents currently supported. It was noted that Heathrow had also reported delivering 371 work experience days to 429 young people in the first quarter of the year. Opportunities to expand this further would be explored.

 

Members asked whether Heathrow provided winter support, such as gritting local roads. It was confirmed that this possibility would be further explored; however, it was noted that Heathrow’s equipment was specialised for airport use.

 

A further question from the Committee focused on active travel and sustainable transport. The Heathrow representatives explained that their Local Cycling and Walking Action Plan aimed to connect airport routes with Borough networks. They discussed the Sustainable Travel Zone, which subsidised bus routes for shift workers, and invited feedback on areas needing improved access.

 

The session concluded with a request from the Chair for Heathrow to consider supporting canal and towpath improvements, which the representative agreed to take back to their team. The chair thanked the Heathrow team for their attendance and engagement.

 

That the Residents’ Services Select Committee noted the information provided in the Heathrow Information Report.