Gatwick £2.2 billion second runway project approved

The privately-financed project worth about £2.2 billion will effectively see the existing Northern Runway moved 12 metres to bring it into full time use.

The project will also see the terminal expanded.

According to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, it could create ‘thousands of jobs and billions in investment’.’

It would enable the airport to handle about 389,000 flights a year in about a decade.

The plans would allow up to 70,000 more flights each year once the runway is fully operational.

This could effectively see the doubling of passenger traffic

The existing Northern Runway is only used for taxiing and a back up.

Once operational, it would be used for single aisle short haul flights.

It emerged planning inspectors had expressed concerns over the effect the proposals would have on several aspects on the area surrounding the airport, including traffic and noise.

Gatwick Airport has vowed to ensure more than half of air travellers use public transport to get to and from the airport ahead of the second runway coming online.

This could mean a full reinstatement of the Gatwick Express service and a private car limit on roads.