Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has signed off the development consents order for the proposed expansion of Gatwick Airport, bringing the plans of a second runway one step closer to reality.<\/p>\n
The privately financed project is ‘shovel-ready’, according to Gatwick. The expansion plans would add 40,000 more flights before the second runway opens and 70,000 more by completion- nearly 190 additional flights a day.<\/p>\n
The consents followed a prolonged period of uncertainty, with the transport secretary issuing a letter in February of this year saying she was ‘minded to approve’<\/a> the plans, but there were lingering concerns over noise mitigation.<\/p>\n In April Gatwick agreed to stricter noise controls, supporting an insulation scheme for local residents and having over half of air passengers using public transport- although the airport called for third parties such as the Department of Transport to “support delivery of the necessary conditions and improvements required to meet this target,” suggesting the reinstating of the Gatwick Express rail service, which has run a reduced service since the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n Per the new conditions, local residents can ask the airport for compensation for the cost of installing triple-glazing windows. For residents most affected by the noise, Gatwick will pay stamp duty and some moving costs for homeowners that choose to move.<\/p>\n Gatwick’s expansion plans will increase flight capacity from 280,000 to 389,000 by the late 2030s, with extensions to both terminals and a new pier to park aircraft.<\/p>\n Currently the Northern runway is only used as a back-up or space for taxiing aircraft, but moving it twelve metres north would allow dual runway operations<\/a> in line with international safety standards. The newly positioned runway would support more short-haul flights.<\/p>\nA five-year scheme to increase customers and reduce congestion<\/h3>\n