To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of residents in London who would be affected by increased noise levels if a third runway was constructed at Heathrow airport. [124408]
The "Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" consultation document (Table 7.3) does not give estimates for London alone. In the consultation document it is estimated that in 2030 the population living within the 57dBA Leq noise contour would be 332,000 if a third runway were constructed (which would include parts of Berkshire, London, South Bucks and Surrey), compared with 278,000 if no runway were built. The 332,000 figure includes people living in areas that would be affected by air traffic using the third runway who would experience increased noise levels compared with today, as well as people in other areas affected by traffic using the existing runways (also within the 57dBA Leq noise contour) who would experience reduced noise levels. For comparison, the figure for the resident population living in the same noise contour in 2000 given in the consultation document was 307,000. This had fallen to 258,300 by 2002.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects new areas of Hammersmith and Fulham to be affected by the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport. [124409]
The modelling of noise impacts that is reported in the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" suggests that noise generated by aircraft using the new runway would not exceed 57 dBA Leq in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. However, the purpose of the assessment was to allow comparison of different options at a variety of locations; it does not purport to be a precise prediction of the noise effects at specific locations.