Gatwick's Second Runway Cleared for Take-Off
The UK government has officially approved Gatwick Airport’s £2.2bn expansion plan, giving the green light to bring its existing northern runway into regular use. The project, fully funded by the private sector, involves shifting the northern runway 12 metres to allow simultaneous operations with the main runway, increasing capacity to around 389,000 flights annually and up to 80 million passengers. It also includes major upgrades to terminals, taxiways, and transport links. Gatwick says the expansion could bring 14,000 jobs and £1bn a year to the economy by the late 2030s.
While ministers and Labour leaders have hailed the move as a "no-brainer for growth", climate groups and local campaigners have pushed back against the decision. The Green Party called the decision a “disaster”, and campaign group CAGNE announced plans to seek a judicial review, citing ongoing concerns about noise, air quality, and the impact the expansion will have on the climate. Despite earlier planning hurdles over noise and traffic, Gatwick revised its proposals to include stricter noise controls, support for triple-glazing costs, and a public transport usage target.
The government insists the expansion meets environmental conditions and will align with the UK’s climate goals, though critics remain unconvinced. "We can't keep ignoring climate change," said CAGNE’s Sally Pavey, while Greenpeace warned the only thing this expansion would boost is "air pollution, noise, and climate emissions". Planes could start flying from the revamped runway by 2029.
