The Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA)
CISHA ensures independent oversight of the way Heathrow engages with stakeholders.
The Council and its forums work with stakeholders to make progress on the issues that matter to them. We hold the airport to account and work to help ensure it is the best neighbour it can be. We fulfil the role of Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) as set out in Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act. For more information on an ACC have a look at our ACC Fact sheet.
CISHA publishes independent review of Heathrow’s sustainability performance
The Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA) has published its 2025 Scrutiny Report, providing an independent assessment of Heathrow Airport’s progress against its sustainability commitments under the Heathrow 2.0 sustainability strategy.
The report focuses on the issues that matter most to local communities, including:
· Noise
· Air quality
· Carbon emissions
· Local jobs and opportunities
· Community impact
While the report recognises progress in areas such as cleaner air initiatives and local employment opportunities, it also highlights concerns where further action is needed. In particular, CISHA identifies risks around Net Zero delivery, worsening noise trends, and the increasing pressure that passenger growth is placing on sustainability targets.
The report calls for:
· Greater transparency and accountability
· Faster progress in key environmental areas
· More timely and independently assured data
· Clearer plans showing how Heathrow will meet its 2030 sustainability goals
CISHA has also recommended the creation of a publicly accessible community dashboard to make sustainability information easier for residents and stakeholders to understand and scrutinise. The report includes a series of recommendations to Heathrow Airport and requests a formal response by 25 June 2026.
Read the full report and press release
Statement from CISHA
Commenting on the release of the Scrutiny Report 2025, Tracey Waltho, CISHA Chair said;
“One of CISHA’s roles is to provide independent oversight of Heathrow Airport’s sustainability performance, by monitoring progress against its strategy, [Connecting People and Planet, Heathrow 2.0.]. We do this because the communities living around Heathrow (along with passengers and workers in and around the airport) are directly impacted by how well the Airport’s sustainability commitments are delivered in practice.
Effective scrutiny shines a light on progress on the issues that matter most to communities, including noise, air quality, jobs and support for local businesses, and community investment activities and since becoming Chair I have signalled my commitment to add rigour to this process – dialling up transparency and accountability.
This report represents a step change in our approach: we have introduced a structured impact and accountability framework and a dedicated focus on Heathrow’s sustainability performance. Together, these developments have enabled a more systematic and rigorous assessment of Heathrow’s performance against its 2030 goals, testing the evidence presented and highlighting the risks to delivery.
I want to take this opportunity to thank our panel of experts and our report lead, together with Heathrow for embracing this process and their commitment to building on this framework in 2026.”
Thursday 18th June 2026
18:00-20:30
Registration is on a first come, first served basis and will close on Friday 12th June.
Registration Form
CISHA OPEN FORUM
CISHA is responsible for ensuring constructive and effective engagement between Heathrow Airport and those who are impacted by the airport.
Independent research commissioned by CISHA has found that
Heathrow's approach to property schemes requires significant improvement.
Key messages
750 homes are at risk of demolition if expansion proceeds
Planning consent is not expected before 2029 at the earliest, extending uncertainty for affected households
Heathrow’s Interim Property Hardship Scheme ranks poorly against comparable national infrastructure schemes.
CISHA Recommendations
CISHA is calling on Heathrow Airport to take immediate action:
Put residents at the centre of property scheme design
Reset hardship criteria to reflect real-life pressures
Provide clear early-exit routes for those needing to move now
Ensure fair, transparent valuations with independent advice
Extend support to renters as well as homeowners
Statement from CISHACommenting on the research and findings CISHA said;
“An important part of our work is not only listening but also asking the questions that help bring focus to the issues which matter to the community. This research work and its findings are vital in helping address the frustration around a scheme which is pivotal to people's lives.”
New research from CISHA highlights the need for improvement of Heathrow Airport’s property schemes as uncertainty continues for households affected by ongoing 3rd runway plans
Thousands of residents living near Heathrow Airport are facing prolonged uncertainty about their homes, with existing property support schemes falling short of their intended purpose. New research published by CISHA finds that, as plans for a potential third runway continue, affected communities may face at least three to four more years of disruption and insecurity.
CISHA’s membership includes six forums that represent stakeholders in and around Heathrow Airport
CAP3149: Heathrow Capacity Expansion – consultation on regulatory policy on early costs
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) consulted on CAP 3149 - Heathrow Expansion Costs. caa.co.uk/cap3149
The Consultation was about whether early planning expenses (like design, environmental studies, legal preparation, and engagement) should be recovered before the Government decides on Heathrow’s expansion.
CISHA submitted a formal response to the CAA's consultation on early costs & Heathrow expansion (CAP 3149) on the recovery of early costs linked to Heathrow’s proposed capacity expansion.
Our Key Messages in Response:
Heathrow’s expansion brings a degree of uncertainty for local communities, with potential effects on property, well-being, and local investment.
The regulatory framework should aim to balance efficiency with fairness, so that community-related investments are not overlooked.
We highlight the value of meaningful community compensation, noting the Airports Commission’s recommendation of more than £1 billion in this area.
Early property-related costs should be managed in a way that gives residents and businesses choice, alongside support for essential local services.
We favour a transparent and fair process for cost recovery, with appropriate oversight to reduce the risk of unnecessary duplication between scheme promoters.
The CAA’s duties to consumers, as well as its wider responsibilities relating to environmental and community matters, should both be taken into account.
CISHA welcomes the CAA’s leadership on this consultation and calls for a regulatory approach that supports both consumers and local communities throughout the expansion process.
View CISHA’s full written response
Posted: 10 September 2025