The impact on local residents of increasing the number of night time flights to Birmingham Airport is outweighed by the economic benefits, Solihull planners have said.

A report due to be discussed by councillors next week has recommended the airport be allowed to raise the cap on the number of flights between 11.30pm and 6am.

BHX currently has a limit of 4,000 night time flights - five per cent of its total movements.

But the application to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council says its forecasts are for 7,227 flights in this financial year (7.6 per cent); 7,528 flights between 2025/26 (7.3 per cent) and 7,600 flights in 2026/27 (seven per cent).

The application has drawn objections from Kenilworth Town Council, Balsall Common Parish Council, Barston Parish Council, Berkswell Parish Council, Dickens Heath Parish Council and nearly 250 local residents.

Kenilworth councillors said the increase would have a "significant" negative impact on local residents.

The town council has called on BHX to "commit to its social responsibility" and reduce the impact on neighbours.

"Aircraft are significant sources of CO2, pollutants, and noise, with late-night arrivals and departures impacting on our community in Kenilworth," the objection said. 

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"Incoming and outgoing flights come low over Kenilworth making a significant noise impact on residents. 

"This is of particular concern in summer, when there is an increase in aircraft movements, and windows are more likely to be open."

BHX estimates the airport contributed around £1.2 billion in gross value added (GVA) to Solihull in 2021, and around £2.1 billion within the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

It stresses if a change is not made to the five per cent cap by 2027 the airport's economic contribution to Solihull could be lowered by around £115 million in GVA, and a reduction of £225 million in GVA for the West Midlands region.

But the town council has said there is no evidence continuing to limit night flights would impact jobs in the region, as the application suggests.

This was not a view shared by planners at SMBC who recommended the application be approved.

"The evidence indicates that the proposed changes...would have a very substantial benefit both to the local and regional economy," the council report said.

"Whilst, maintaining or reducing the cap would have a significant consequence and impact on the economic contribution that the airport has on the local and regional economy."

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It added: "No adverse impacts have been identified which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant benefits outlined above."

The application will be discussed at SMBC's planning committee meeting on Wednesday 8 January.