London, September 22(HS):
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has granted approval for a second runway at London Gatwick, delivering a major boost for the privately funded, £2.2 billion airport expansion project. The plan will see the existing Northern Runway repositioned and brought into regular use, allowing annual flights to surge from 280,000 to nearly 389,000 by the late 2030s and passenger numbers to potentially reach 80 million—eclipsing the current 40 million mark.
The government is positioning the decision as a catalyst for regional employment and economic growth, with a source describing the expansion as a “no-brainer” for job creation. Additional terminal upgrades and increased flight capacity—especially for short-haul routes—are expected to help ease congestion on London’s main runway and stimulate local business.
A wave of opposition has emerged from local residents and environmental groups, who argue the project will worsen noise, road congestion, and air pollution while undermining the UK’s legally binding climate commitments. Gatwick has responded by pledging stricter noise controls, enhanced home insulation for nearby communities, and a goal to have 54% of passengers use public transport. Failure to meet these targets could trigger measures such as a cap on car usage near the airport—or even delay the runway’s operational launch until £350 million in road upgrades is completed. If those safeguards fall short, legal challenges loom, with campaign groups threatening judicial review.
Restoring the Gatwick Express service—cut to half its pre-Covid frequency since 2022—is seen as essential to achieving the public transport goal. The airport has warned that without sufficient rail upgrades, road congestion could become a flashpoint, prompting further intervention.
While Labour’s growth group chair Chris Curtis and shadow transport secretary Richard Holden have broadly welcomed the move, both criticized the government for delays and called for broader planning reform. Trade union Unite supports the expansion but insists on guarantees for well-paid, unionized jobs.
Critics, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski and the New Economics Foundation’s Alex Chapman, argue the project risks shifting, rather than creating, jobs and will exacerbate environmental harms. Local activist Sally Pavey, representing Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions, warns of “uncontrollable noise” and a “decline in air quality,” vowing to pursue legal action.
This approval is the latest in a series of UK airport expansion decisions, following Luton’s earlier this year. Eyes now turn to the far more contentious and complex proposal for a third runway at Heathrow, which remains mired in political, economic, and environmental debate.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
