Heathrow easterly alternation
On 16 December 2025, the council’s Planning Committee agreed to grant planning permission (ref. 41573/APP/2024/2838) for works needed to support bringing the Cranford Agreement to an end. This decision depends on a Section 106 agreement being signed.
Once approved, the Section 106 agreement will form part of the planning permission. It will put in place important measures to make sure the proposal meets the committee's requirements. These measures include noise protection to impacted homes and schools, as well as specific requirements relating to noise and vibration in Longford.
The agreement is currently being considered by both parties.
Further updates will be provided once a draft is available.
Background
The northern and southern Heathrow runways both allow for take offs and departures. Departures are generally into a headwind and the prevailing wind from the south-west means approximately 70% of operations are in a westerly direction.
When planes are landing and taking off towards the west (known as westerly operations), Heathrow alternate the use of the two runways to provide local communities with respite. This means that for part of the day Heathrow use one runway for landings and the other for take-offs, then at 3pm, it switches over. At the end of each week, the pattern changes.
At present, when planes take off towards the east (known as easterly operations), only the southern runway is used. This is the result of a historical arrangement known as the Cranford Agreement, which central government formally ended in 2009.
Proposal
The current planning application has been submitted by Heathrow Airport Limited to support the airport in alternating between the runways when on easterly operations. This would mirror the westerly operating patterns, although would result in new departures over communities that have not routinely experienced them.
To enable the above changes, certain ground infrastructure works are required. These include the construction of a new, larger noise barrier in Longford and taxiway adjustments on the airfield to allow for the movement of aircraft between terminals and the northern runway.
It must be noted that the planning application does not allow for runway expansion or an increase in air traffic movements.