The 2M Group: against Heathrow expansion
Where you live: how extra flights could affect you
The previous government's plans to expand Heathrow would have affected many parts of London and the South East.
Some areas which already suffer from aircraft noise would find things getting much worse. Other communities would experience the roar of a jumbo jet overhead for the first time.
The total number of flights at Heathrow would have gone up from the current figure of 480,000 to around 700,000 a year.
Although runway alternation, where aircraft approaching from the east switch runways at 3pm, was retained, the January 2009 decision abolished the Cranford agreement which prevents take-offs to the east from both runways.
in 2008 we published a guide called Where You Live: How Extra Flights Could Affect You, which explained how extra flights could affect areas of London. You can download it from the Related Downloads area. It pre-dates the decision to keep runway alternation. Even so it is useful as a guide to how different areas could be affected. The information provided is not definitive and should be treated with caution.
