Solihull planners have agreed to formally monitor the number of night time flights in and out of Birmingham Airport after agreeing an increase earlier this year. 

BHX bosses successfully applied to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for the increase after arguing extra night flights were necessary if the airport is to grow and the local economy is not to miss out on millions in economic benefits.

But there had been widespread opposition from residents who said peaceful nights were "already becoming a distant memory".

Kenilworth Town Council also wrote objecting to the plans, calling on BHX to "commit to its social responsibility" and reduce the impact on neighbours.

In response to the concerns it was proposed a new sub-committee of the authority's planning committee – described as a 'critical friend' – would monitor, assess and understand the performance of the night flying policy as it evolves over time. 

It was proposed the group's key tasks would be:

• To monitor the number of air traffic movements (ATMs) recorded at the airport on a regular basis and the proportion of such movements that occur within the nighttime period
• To consider the level of ATMs in the context of the airport's growth forecasts
• To consider the airport's ongoing programme to support its aircraft and their carriers to embrace technological responses to reduce noise and other environmental impacts

Planning officer Mark Andrews told the planning committee's latest meeting on May 21 the intention was for the sub committee to comprise three members – Cllr Bob Grinsell, the chairman of the planning committee, with two others voted in. 

The officer explained the plan was for the other two slots to be filled by a councillor from Solihull Council's Conservative controlling group and a member of an opposition party sitting on the planning committee.

And it was proposed the sub committee's meetings would also be attended by council officers and a representative from Birmingham Airport.

The officer added: "Whilst the meetings won't be held in public, minutes will be taken from each meeting and reported back to the meeting of the planning committee at the next opportunity to do so – for noting."

Councillors voted unanimously to support establishing the sub-committee while Green Party Councillor Julie Lamden and Conservative Dave Pinwell were voted in to sit on the group. 

In January Solihull planners agreed to the increase from 5 per cent to 7.3 per cent in flights arriving or leaving between 11.30pm and 6am – thought to average around 21 flights a night.

After BHX's application was first reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service a 642-strong petition was handed to the authority against the plan, while there was backlash from many of Solihull's parish councils and 243 objections in a public consultation. 

At January's meeting Nikki Baines, BHX's head of planning transport and strategy, told the committee: "We instructed independent noise consultants to assess the impact. 

"The assessment demonstrates the overall levels of night noise will decrease."

She also warned – if changes were not approved – economic benefits would be "impaired" due to airlines reducing destinations and even relocating aircraft from Birmingham Airport.