£2.2 billion expansion ok’d as Gatwick eyes 100,000 more flights
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Gatwick Airport has secured approval for its £2.2 billion second runway plan, a decision delivered by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander that paves the way for up to 100,000 additional flights each year. The project involves moving the airport’s emergency runway 12 metres to the north, allowing it to support departures for narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
The expansion is part of a wider ambition to unlock more capacity across the southeast of England. Gatwick is positioning itself as a key growth engine, with projections estimating 14,000 new jobs and an additional £1 billion in economic activity. Supporters view the project as a necessary step in boosting trade, tourism and the UK’s global connectivity.
The approval follows a complex planning journey. Initially rejected by the Planning Inspectorate, the proposal was later endorsed after Gatwick submitted amendments that addressed noise levels and public transport access. The revised plan included measures intended to encourage a higher percentage of passengers to use buses and trains rather than private vehicles, a move aimed at easing pressure on local infrastructure.
Aviation growth and environmental challenges
The government maintains that the project can proceed without breaching the UK’s climate commitments. Adjustments around emissions monitoring, passenger transport mode share and local air quality are expected to form the basis for long-term compliance. However, these terms are not expected to be legally binding, which leaves room for interpretation and future disputes.
Opposition to the plan has remained strong. Environmental campaigners and local groups argue the second runway contradicts national climate targets. Concerns include increased aircraft noise, pollution, housing pressure and surface transport congestion. A number of campaign organisations have already prepared legal action, with judicial reviews expected to challenge the robustness of the government’s decision.
Gatwick and its financial backers have proposed mitigation measures including compensation for residents. These range from funding noise insulation to covering moving costs for those who choose to relocate. Critics have raised questions over the voluntary nature of these offers and the lack of enforceable commitments.
A broader shift in infrastructure policy
The approval comes amid renewed interest in airport expansion across the UK. Heathrow recently revived its own plans for a third runway as part of a £50 billion investment framework. Together, these moves suggest a policy direction focused on unlocking aviation capacity as a lever for national economic renewal.
While ministers frame the Gatwick decision as pragmatic and pro-growth, it also reflects the delicate balance between infrastructure delivery and environmental responsibility. The government will need to show that development can be pursued without undermining climate targets, community interests or long-term sustainability.
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