The UK Government has granted official approval for London Gatwick’s 2.2 billion GBP Northern Runway scheme, which will bring a second runway into regular use.
The project, which has been under examination since 2021, involves repositioning the existing northern runway so that it can operate alongside the main runway for routine commercial flights. Gatwick expects the scheme to support growth in passenger numbers, freight capacity and international connectivity.
The Department for Transport confirmed the decision on 21 September.
Stewart Wingate, VINCI Airports Managing Director for the United Kingdom, said:After a lengthy and rigorous planning process, we welcome the Government's approval of plans to bring our Northern Runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline.
This is another important gateway in the planning process for this £2.2bn investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick and the UK and create thousands of jobs.
The expansion is projected to accommodate up to 100,000 additional flights per year once operational. Gatwick has argued that the scheme will strengthen resilience in the UK’s airport network, contribute to regional economic development and improve connections to global markets.
However, environmental and community groups have expressed concerns during the consultation process, particularly regarding aircraft noise and carbon emissions.
Green Party Co-Leader, Zack Polanski, said:Signing off on a second runway at Gatwick is a disaster. It ignores basic climate science and risks undermining efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Labour keeps wheeling out the same nonsense about growth, but at what cost? What this really means is more pollution, more noise for local communities, and no real economic benefit. Expanding Gatwick is a tired, 20th-century answer to a 21st-century crisis. Labour’s obsession with ‘growth at all costs’ is driving us deeper into a climate breakdown and social inequality crisis.
With approval secured, Gatwick and its shareholders will proceed to the next phase of planning and construction, subject to the detailed requirements of the consent.
