The UK government announced on Sunday that it has approved plans for a second runway at London Gatwick Airport. This 2.2 million-pound ($2.96 million) project was approved after the government expressed its inclination to expand the country’s second-largest airport in February.
At that time, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander stated that she had issued a “minded to approve” letter regarding Gatwick’s proposal to fully utilize its backup runway to accommodate millions of new passengers in the 2030s.
A Department for Transport spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that after careful consideration, Alexander has issued a letter confirming her approval of the airport’s application to expand operations through the routine use of its existing northern runway. “After a lengthy and rigorous planning process, we welcome the government’s approval of plans to bring our Northern Runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline,” stated VINCI Airports’ managing director Steven Wingate in a statement posted on Gatwick’s website.
According to its website, VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in London Gatwick.
Wingate mentioned that the investment is fully funded by the company’s shareholders, while emphasizing that “it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to realize the full benefits of the project and do not impose unnecessary constraints that make it uneconomic to invest in.”
Gatwick’s plan involves moving the backup runway by 12 meters to meet safety standards for both runways to operate, potentially by the end of the decade, enhancing trade and tourism and creating 14,000 jobs.
Alexander will aim to ensure that the Gatwick expansion project is thorough, as it may face legal challenges due to opposition from local communities and environmental groups.
The government has stated that sustainable aviation fuel ensures airport enlargements do not derail net-zero targets, and it has also supported a new runway at Gatwick’s larger rival, Heathrow.
