Plans to increase the number of night-time flights T Birmingham Airport will have a "significant" negative impact on Kenilworth residents, the town council has said.

Kenilworth Town Council has submitted an objection to the latest application from BHX which could allow for more arrivals and departures between 11.30pm and 6am.

The current arrangement allows for no more than 4,000 flights at night a year.

This is based on an annual restriction of five per cent of the total air traffic movements to take place at night, which the airport wants to increase to around 7.3 per cent.

But with flights heading over Kenilworth to reach Birmingham, 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. 

"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.

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

The objection continued: "Rather than expanding night flights, Birmingham Airport should prioritise noise mitigation, reduce total night-time air traffic movements, and in conjunction with airlines develop a comprehensive plan for future noise reduction. 

"We urge the airport to commit to its social responsibility, balancing economic interests with the health and quality of life of those living nearby and continue with the current night flying restrictions."

BHX says the current agreement came into force in 2009 with an aim to "tighten the limits" on night time flying and reduce the figure to four per cent of the total number of flights annually.

In documents submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Council's airport consultants, McLoughlin Planning, write: "The airport handles 40 per cent more passengers.

"This has been in part down to the rise of low-cost carriers using the airport and changes in their operating patterns.

"Those changes see a much more intensive use of the aircraft over a longer operating day, meaning earlier starts and later finishes.

"Birmingham Airport Limited cannot keep pace with the changing circumstances at the airport in terms of operations and the types of aircraft and their associated movements, as part of the airport's ongoing growth forecasts."