Gatwick Airport second runway - could an expansion happen?

Gatwick Airport could bring its northern runway into full use under potential plans
-Credit:2024 James D. Morgan


Gatwick Airport could be expanded under government plans to reignite the British economy. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to back proposals to increase the capacity of the West Sussex airport, along Heathrow and Luton.

Previous plans have faced serious opposition from local and environmental campaigners who claim it would increase noise and hamper net-zero carbon emissions targets.

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If this becomes government policy, an expansion of Gatwick Airport will be increasingly likely as Number 10 also hoped to get rid of red tape.

So called “blockers” to major transport projects will be cleared. In the past legal challenges have prevented extensions of both airports, SurreyLive reports. The legal system could be overhauled with campaigners given just one attempt at a legal challenge for “cynical cases lodged purely to cause delay rather than three”.

The Government said this would balance the need for ongoing access to justice against what it describes as a “challenge culture” where small pressure groups obstruct decisions taken in the national interest.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges – using our court processes to frustrate growth.

“We’re putting an end to this challenge culture by taking on the NIMBYs and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation. This is the government’s Plan for Change in action – taking the brakes off Britain by reforming the planning system so it is pro-growth and pro-infrastructure.

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“The current first attempt, known as the paper permission stage, will be scrapped. Primary legislation will be changed so that where a judge in an oral hearing at the High Court deems the case Totally Without Merit, it will not be possible to ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider. To ensure ongoing access to justice, a request to appeal second attempt will be allowed for other cases.”

'UK will miss out on opportunities'

Gatwick Airport CEO Steven Wingate has welcomed this move from the government, stating the airport can play a major part in the push for growth.

He said: "We are already contributing over £5.5billion to the UK economy and supporting over 76,000 jobs, but unless we can access greater airport capacity the UK will miss out on opportunities to enhance global connectivity and unlock further opportunities for trade, tourism and job creation."

Gatwick already has a northern runway, but laws prevent its regular use. If it can use it in tandem with the main runway, Gatwick bosses say 14,000 jobs will be created through a £2.2bn private investment.

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This could generate revenue of £1bn per year by the time its operational before 2030. Mr Wingate concluded: "We have put forward a strong and compelling case focused around making best use of our existing infrastructure, minimising noise and environmental impacts and meeting the four ‘tests’ for airport expansion set by Labour.”

Mayor Sadiq Khan won a third term in 2024 on a platform of opposing expansion of airports in the capital.
Mayor Sadiq Khan won a third term in 2024 on a platform of opposing expansion of airports in the capital. -Credit:LDRS

Despite gaining government support, these plans will face considerable opposition if they go ahead. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has warned against the "climate emergency" if multiple London airports are expanded, while Environment Secretary Ed Miliband has suggested he would resign if it obstructed current net-zero targets.

Sadiq Khan told the London Assembly: "What Londoners know and the Government knows is the aviation sector is important for growth, jobs and prosperity, but we face a climate crisis and a climate emergency.

“The Climate Change Committee, well respected, set out quite clearly its recommendations… the only time expansion of aviation should be considered – I’m paraphrasing – is if it abides with our climate change commitments and so forth.

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“The three big concerns that would need to be addressed if, in the hypothetical case, the speculation was to become a reality, is could a new runway be built that abides with carbon targets, concerns around noise pollution, and concerns around air pollution?

“Should that speculation become a reality, we’ll of course consider the merits of that case. But I’m quite clear, my views on the expansion of Heathrow by a new runway haven’t changed.”

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