A decision by the UK government to allow Gatwick airport’s emergency runway into regular use has been welcomed by officials at the airport.
The plan would see the runway moved slightly as well as a number of other upgrades. These include remodelling and replacing existing taxiways, some of which have already been completed, extending both terminals, and installing new aircraft gates.
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“We welcome today’s announcement that the Secretary of State for Transport is minded to approve our Northern Runway plans and has outlined a clear pathway to full approval later in the year”, said Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate.
“It is vital that any planning conditions attached to the final approval enable us to make a decision to invest £2.2bn in this project and realise the full benefits of bringing the Northern Runway into routine use”.
Adding that he will ‘engage fully’ in the regulatory approval process, Wingate noted that the airport had outlined to government how it planned to grow responsibly to meet increasing passenger demand, while minimising noise and environmental impacts
“We stand ready to deliver this project which will create 14,000 jobs and generate £1bn a year in economic benefits. By increasing resilience and capacity we can support the UK’s position as a leader in global connectivity and deliver substantial trade and economic growth in the South East and more broadly” he concluded.
Gatwick Airport is the busiest single runway airport in Europe, and it has been under pressure to expand for years. However, noise, traffic and environmental concerns from nearby residents need to be addressed.
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