Campaigners have welcomed Heathrow Airport’s intention to redesign its flight paths and give communities hit hard by aircraft noise a break.

HACAN, a group which gives a voice to people impacted by the airport’s noise, said it is “pleased” its concerns are being taken seriously.

It comes after Heathrow last week published results of a consultation it held earlier in the year which showed most people want to see noise shared among wider areas as opposed to concentrated in particular communities.

John Stewart, chairman of

HACAN represents London communities underneath the flight paths including Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead, where families say their neighbourhoods have been turned into "noise ghettos".

Chairman John Stewart said: “This is proof that victories are possible.

“For over a decade we have campaigned for respite from the noise for people.

“We are pleased that Heathrow has listened and will avoid all-day flying over communities.”

The report by Heathrow Airspace Team focuses on the redesign of the flight paths – the biggest of its kind since the airport opened in the 1940s.

The consultation was not on the exact route of the flight paths but on how people thought they should be designed.

The majority of people said new areas should be avoided if possible.

The least favoured option was for all-day flying on flights paths concentrated over certain communities.

The reason behind the change in the paths is driven by the worldwide changes in the way planes are guided when landing and taking off.

The report will now go to the Civil Aviation Authority for approval.

If it is approved, Heathrow plans to consult further on the flight paths in January, however the exact paths won’t be known for another few years.