'Sleep disruption virtually guaranteed' - London's New Towns will be blighted by aircraft noise
Thamesmead and Crews Hill in Enfield - both shortlisted by the government's New Towns taskforce - sit under flight paths from two of the capital's major airports.
Residents planning to move to either of London’s ‘New Towns’ will have to live with significant aircraft noise, new analysis has suggested.
Both Thamesmead and Crews Hill in Enfield – two major developments shortlisted by the government’s New Towns taskforce – sit beneath flight paths from two of the capital’s major airports.
Those expecting live on a peaceful waterfront in Thamesmead may end up facing noise levels of up to 82 decibels (dBA) between 3am and 10pm, the same as a diesel lorry, according to My Flight Path, an aviation impact analysis service.
“Thamesmead sits beneath converging flight paths from both London City Airport and Heathrow approach routes,” the report, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), states.
“With London City planning to extend operating hours and Heathrow’s third runway approved at £49 billion, aircraft movements over Greenwich will significantly increase.”
The same analysis found those in Crews Hill won’t be that much better off, with future residents facing noise levels of up to 77 dBA, the same as a washing machine.
This is due to the planned New Town sitting below the flight paths for Stansted and Luton airport – both of which are set to expand further, sending more planes over north London between 5am and 1am.
The World Health Organisation states that aircraft noise above 45 dBA at night causes sleep disturbance and increases risks of cardiovascular disease.
Based on research showing that property values decrease by 0.5-
0.6% for every decibel of aircraft noise above this threshold, a typical £420,000 home in Thamesmead could lose up to £84,000 in value, and up to £73,500 in Crews Hill.
Jono Oates, Co-Founder of My Flight Path, told the LDRS: “Crews Hills location makes it among the worst of all New Towns sites. At 77 dBA, outdoor conversation becomes difficult, children’s learning is impaired, and sleep disruption is virtually guaranteed during flight operations.
“While planners focus on transport links, schools, and ground infrastructure, aircraft noise exposure has received minimal attention in public consultations or environmental assessments.
“This isn’t about stopping development – it’s about being honest with Enfield residents about what they’ll face. For Enfield, this is one of the largest developments by home numbers, meaning the financial impact is enormous: up to £1.85 billion in lost property value.
“That’s wealth that should stay in North London families’ pockets.”
Last week a member of the New Towns taskforce told the London Assembly that Crews Hill and Thamesmead, if successful, could “show the way” for other sites in London to be developed.
The London Assembly planning and regeneration committee is currently investigating how the two New Towns will best fit in London and what their impact will be on the capital.
Andrew Boff, a Conservative Assembly Member who sits on the cross-party committee, told the LDRS: “Whilst we’re pleased that new homes are to be built for Londoners at a time when the mayor is falling short of his responsibilities, we want to be sure that any new housing is of good quality, in appropriate areas, and will support existing developments.
“That the New Town at Thamesmead will suffer from high volumes and loss of property value is something which needs to be taken into account before any new homeowners are mis-sold properties and end up trapped in a town they can’t escape.”
Overall, the analysis from My Flight Path found that found that 11 of the 12 locations recommended by the Government’s New Towns taskforce – which together could yield 250,000 new homes – will be significantly affected by aircraft noise, with the worst off being Leeds South Bank.
Only the planned 10,000 home regeneration in Plymouth will be unaffected.
