The government has confirmed it will likely approve an expansion to Gatwick Airport, but it has delayed the final decision until October to seek views from all affected parties.
The airport already 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. 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.
Transport minister Heidi Alexander has said she is “minded to approve” the £2.2bn expansion, but has announced a nine-month extension to the final decision time frame. Assuming final consent is granted, Gatwick could start turning the Northern Runway into a full-time airstrip as early as next year, although it will only be used for take-offs.
The expansion will be 100% privately funded and likely completed by the end of the decade.
Gatwick first unveiled proposals...