The £2.2 billion expansion of Gatwick Airport will proceed after the Court of Appeal dismissed a bid by campaigners to challenge the government's approval. The decision allows the West Sussex airport to move its emergency runway 12 metres north to accommodate around 100,000 more flights a year.
Legal challenge fails
Peter Barclay and the campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) had sought permission to appeal a High Court ruling that upheld the government's decision. The High Court dismissed their challenges in June, with Mr Justice Mould finding it was "neither illogical nor contradictory" for Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander not to refuse the development on the basis of its climate impact. He also rejected an argument about the need for expansion given Gatwick's proximity to Heathrow.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove dismissed the appeal bids, stating in a 29-page ruling: "We conclude that each of the grounds of appeal raised by each appellant is unarguable. Neither appeal has a real prospect of success. We also consider that there are no other compelling reasons for either appeal to be heard." The judges also described Mr Justice Mould's ruling as "detailed and thorough".
Expansion details
The expansion, approved by Mrs Alexander in September, will allow the airport to use the runway for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. First flights from the new runway are expected in 2030. Gatwick is the UK's second busiest airport and one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world.
Government response
Following the decision, Mrs Alexander said: "This is a major milestone for Gatwick and for local communities, with expansion unlocking investment and creating thousands of new jobs. Around 13 million more passengers and 100,000 more flights will give holidaymakers greater choice and strengthen global links to help make the UK one of the most attractive places in the world to invest. We'll back expansion that supports growth and our climate goals. To drive forward sustainable change, we're also investing over £219m for green fuel production to cut emissions from flying and secure the future of aviation."
