Residential Insulation Scheme FAQs

The Residential Insulation Scheme is part of Heathrow Airport’s new package of measures that will fund qualifying works to better protect homes with noise insulation measures in eligible areas.

That’s up to 100% of eligible insulation costs including:

• Replacement primary windows or secondary glazing and external doors
• Installation of acoustically rated ventilation in eligible rooms to dampen external noise
• Acoustic quilt within the roof void
• Upgrading of ceilings within eligible rooms to help reduce noise

Properties will be eligible if they are located within a single composite boundary based on current UK noise policy*.

This will be regularly updated to take account of improvements in aircraft fleet and changes in airspace use or design. This will help to reflect and incentivise investment in new fleet technology and operational procedures, as well as ensuring that the scheme continues to remain reflective of the noise climate.

We will contact residents as we open each phase of the scheme and provide information on our Noise pages.

The eligibility criteria is decided by Heathrow and is based on up-to-date noise modelling to ensure the boundary remains reflective of changes to noise exposure over time.

*This will be compliant with existing policy and reflective of the Significant Observed Adverse Effect Level (SOAEL) for day and night and based on scheduled operations before 06:00, the Sound Exposure Level (SEL) footprint of the noisiest aircraft and the calculated probability of >1 additional awakening. 

Given the hugely increased scope of this scheme and our aim to reach around 20,000 of the most affected homes, the delivery programme has been phased, using noise modelling and other data to identify eligible homes.

The roll-out programme of eligible areas is decided by an independent prioritisation panel of experts, comprising representatives from stakeholder organisations. These include The Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA), Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (HSPG), Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) and Heathrow AOC (Airline Operators Committee). The eligibility criteria will be regularly updated to take account of improvements in aircraft fleet and changes in airspace use or design. This will help to reflect and incentivise investment in new fleet technology and operational procedures, as well as ensuring that the scheme remains current.

All works will be funded by Heathrow on a like for like basis. There may be a cost if you choose to increase the specification beyond the works that we have agreed to fund. While Listed buildings can be eligible, the cost of any planning permissions required remains with the homeowner.

Registration is now open to all eligible properties. Phase one will commence from 2025 to 2028 and once registered, we will be back in touch to advise when we will be in your specific area. 

The fitting of ventilation units may be required to provide adequate background ventilation to a property. This will negate the need to rely on opening windows to improve airflow. All ventilation products installed are to meet a minimum acoustic performance and will comply with the applicable sections of the Building Regulations, and other relevant standards. 

Ventilation units allow you to control the flow of air into the home without the need to open windows and will only use a small amount of energy to run. We expect this to be partially offset by a potential increase in energy efficiency from improved noise insulation in windows and roof spaces.

We would still like to hear from you, and it is possible that you can still benefit. Previously funded works will be taken into account by our expert surveyor who can advise if we can improve things further.

Yes. When we contact you to discuss the offer, we will explain that we will need to book in the works to be completed by a specific date for your area. We will need to hear from you within a specified time frame of us contacting you to inform you that your home is eligible. We will make every effort to contact you, including calling in to knock on your door and speak to you directly. If we have not heard from you within the specified time frame, you will be added to a ‘no response’ list and this may impact your eligibility if the boundary changes (which will be at least every five years) or delay our ability to schedule the works into our delivery schedule.

The first step is to get in touch with us by calling, emailing or filling in a Registration Form which you can access via our Postcode Checker tool.

We will then arrange a home visit with our expert team. They will survey your home and create a report setting out what measures we think you need to make your home quieter.

If you agree, we will start a process to book in the works, making sure you are communicated with along the way, fixing a date to install and working with you to make the process as smooth as possible.

Heathrow will fund up to 100% of eligible costs.