Work on Gatwick Airport’s second runway can now commence after the Court of Appeal rejected a legal challenge against the expansion project. This marks the second time in a month that legal appeals brought by local resident Peter Barclay and the environmental group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) have failed.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, approved Gatwick Airport’s plans for a second runway last year. The £2.2bn project will involve moving Gatwick’s existing standby northern runway 12 metres north, reconfiguring taxiways, and expanding terminal buildings to support routine dual-runway operations.
The expansion is projected to create as many as 14,000 new jobs and contribute an annual £1bn to the UK economy. When the first flights take off from the extended Northern Runway in 2030, the expansion is expected to add 100,000 additional flights each year.
Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove handed down their ruling on Tuesday, refusing permission to appeal and dismissing the applications. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented that this is a "major milestone for Gatwick and for local communities, with expansion unlocking investment and creating thousands of new jobs."