Gatwick Airport has said it will accept terms proposed by the government to implement local noise restrictions if it is granted consent to operate its additional runway.
Transport minister Heidi Alexander said earlier this year that she would likely approve the expansion but is not expected to make the final decision until October.
The airport currently has a northern runway that runs parallel to the main one, but they cannot be used at the same time as they are too close together. Gatwick wants to shift the runway 12 metres further away to allow both to operate simultaneously. The move should open up Britain’s skies to an additional 100,000 flights per year while creating an estimated 14,000 jobs.
In its latest response, Gatwick said it would accept stricter limits on aircraft noise and has put forward an improved noise insulation scheme for local residents.
It has also accepted a requirement to have 54% of passengers using public transport prior to bringing the northern runway into operation...