UK Government backs Gatwick second runway

Image courtesy Gatwick / VINCI Airports

Gatwick Airport wants to move its northern runway – currently used only for taxiing or as a back up – and make it operational by the end of the decade.

This planned use of its second runway has been backed by government, as long as measures to reduce noise are put in place, following a statement yesterday by the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander that she was "minded to approve" the expansion: ‘Given the examining authority’s report, for the first time, recommends an alternative DCO which includes a range of controls on the operation of the scheme and not all the provisions have been considered during the examination, I am issuing a minded to approve decision that provides some additional time to seek views from all parties on the provisions, prior to a final decision’.

The deadline for the final decision is now extended to 27th October 2025 (an extension of nine months). The decision to set a new deadline is without prejudice to the decision on whether to give development consent.

The transport secretary’s support does not guarantee the expansion will go ahead as it would still need planning permission, whilst some MPs, local authorities and residents, are strongly against the scheme’s development.

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, London Gatwick said: “We welcome today’s announcement that the Secretary of State for Transport is minded to approve our Northern Runway plans and has outlined a clear pathway to full approval later in the year.  

“It is vital that any planning conditions attached to the final approval enable us to make a decision to invest £2.2 billion in this project and realise the full benefits of bringing the Northern Runway into routine use.  

“We will of course engage fully in the extended process for a final decision.

"We stand ready to deliver this project which will create 14,000 jobs and generate £1 billion a year in economic benefits. By increasing resilience and capacity we can support the UK’s position as a leader in global connectivity and deliver substantial trade and economic growth in the South East and more broadly. We have also outlined to government how we plan to grow responsibly to meet increasing passenger demand, while minimising noise and environmental impacts.”