The UK government has said it is minded to approve Gatwick Airport’s plans to put its northern runway into regular use.
UK secretary of state for transport Heidi Alexander today issued a “minded to approve” letter to Gatwick for its £2.2bn expansion plans which include utilising the northern runway.
However, a deadline for the government to make its final decision has now been knocked back until October to allow the airport extra time to consider whether adjustments need to be made to its application regarding noise prevention and public transport to the airport.
The news was cautiously welcomed by Gatwick Airport.
The airport's chief executive, Stewart Wingate, 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 £2.2bn 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.
“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."
Under the existing planning agreement, Gatwick’s standby runway is used only when the main runway is closed for maintenance or emergencies.
The Gatwick plans would see the northern runway being moved further away from the main runway as the two cannot be used at the same time due to their proximity to each other.
If given approval, Gatwick figures show this would bring in an additional 60,000 flights per year and boost cargo volumes to 161,500 tonnes by 2038 compared with 61,000 tonnes in 2023 (the latest full-year figures available) and more than double 2019 levels - its busiest year in terms of flight numbers.
