The noise story: 1974 to "London in a spin"

Hansard 1974, GLC limits, 2005 altitude change, GLA 2006 report, LSBU 2018.

Key facts

• 1974: no noise limits for aircraft in flight over Greater London
• 2005: minimum altitude 1,500 ft to 1,000 ft
• Oct 2006 report: first comprehensive review
• 80 movements/day, 12,000/year limit

In date order

1. 1974 (28 June)Written answer on helicopter flights in London
   Clinton Davis: no noise limits applied to aircraft in flight over Greater London; flights limited to a few prescribed routes; pilots to fly near the 1,000 ft maximum; GLC controlled Battersea movements through planning powers and was understood to have asked for reduced movements in 1974; CAA considering route changes for Brentford and Chiswick. api.parliament.uk
   Confidence: verified (Hansard)
2. 2006 (October)London Assembly Environment Committee publishes "London in a spin"
   First comprehensive review of helicopter noise in the capital (chair Darren Johnson AM); called for a movements database, complaints system, London Heliport Consultative Committee, user charge and 25% write-down allowance for older helicopters. Committee meeting held 13 July 2006. london.gov.uk
   Confidence: verified (GLA report text)
3. 2018LSBU heliport noise monitoring study
   Commissioned by three boroughs; found residents near the Thames routinely subjected to noise levels that could be a health concern. lsbu.ac.uk
   Confidence: secondary (search summary)