London Gatwick Airport has submitted an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to bring the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use alongside its Main Runway. The airport aims to leverage its existing infrastructure to unlock new capacity, improve airport resilience, and meet future passenger demand in line with government policy.
The ambitious plan, which emphasises low environmental impact, also aims to enhance London Gatwick’s crucial economic role by creating approximately 14,000 new jobs and injecting £1 billion into the region’s economy each year. The projected growth is expected to stem from increased tourism, trade, supply-chain activities, and other business opportunities.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, expressed his optimism about the plan, stating that it would secure the long-term future of the airport and contribute to the economic prosperity of thousands of families, businesses, and future generations in the region. Wingate also highlighted that if approved, the plan would enhance airport resilience, cater to future passenger demand, and increase competition in the London airport market by providing new international connections to support “Global Britain.”
Over the past two years, the airport has engaged in extensive consultation and outreach activities to shape the plans in accordance with the needs and requirements of local residents, airlines, passengers, and other stakeholders. The airport’s growth plans have garnered significant support from residents across Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, as indicated by a recent YouGov poll of over 3,000 people. The poll revealed that 78% of residents who expressed an opinion supported Gatwick’s Northern Runway plans, emphasizing their importance for the region’s economy and job creation.
The breakdown of job creation resulting from the expansion includes over 3,000 new jobs at the airport, 2,000 new jobs within the supply chains of airport-related businesses located elsewhere, 1,300 additional jobs supported by new employees spending their wages in the local economy, and 7,600 further jobs generated in businesses located in the region benefiting from the increased connectivity and economic activity the airport’s plans would bring.
To address environmental concerns, Gatwick Airport has made legally binding commitments as part of its submission to PINS. These commitments include controlling noise levels and reducing carbon emissions within the airport’s direct control. The airport has pledged to operate within a ‘noise envelope’ that ensures noise reduction over time. By the ninth year of the Northern Runway’s opening, the airport’s operations are expected to generate less noise than in 2019 when the airport operated at full capacity. Additionally, the Northern Runway will not be used routinely in conjunction with the main runway between 23:00 and 06:00 each day. The airport plans to implement an industry-leading noise insulation scheme, increasing the number of eligible homes from the current 2,000 to 4,300.
London Gatwick has also recently announced a £250 million investment to accelerate its plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions for its own Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, a decade earlier than previously planned. The commitment is part of the airport’s Carbon Action Plan submitted with the application.
Currently functioning solely as a taxiway when the Main Runway is out of use, the Northern Runway would be repositioned 12 meters north to align with international safety standards under the proposed plan. It would be used exclusively for departing flights. Construction is projected to commence in 2025 and conclude by the end of the decade, with the majority of the construction taking place within the airport’s existing boundary.
If approved, the plans would enable the airport to meet future passenger demand, aiming to serve around 75 million passengers annually by the late 2030s.
