The government has backed plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport but stopped short of full approval setting a new deadline for a final decision in October 2025.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “minded to approve” the expansion but insisted the airport must do more to tackle noise and boost public transport use before getting the green light.
In a written ministerial statement she said
I am issuing a minded to approve decision that provides some additional time to seek views from all parties on the provisions prior to a final decision.
The deadline for the final decision is now extended to 27 October 2025 (an extension of 9 months). The decision to set a new deadline is without prejudice to the decision on whether to give development consent for the above application.”Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary
The plans would see Gatwick’s northern runway which is currently used as a taxiway converted for full use. The airport argues the extra capacity is vital to meet growing demand predicting 50,000 more departures a year by the late 2030s.
Supporters say expansion would boost the economy by increasing business and holiday travel. The government is already backing aviation growth with Chancellor Rachel Reeves supporting a third runway at Heathrow last month.
Gatwick is Europe’s busiest single-runway airport handling 40 million passengers last year.
The Transport Secretary made it clear she sees aviation as a key driver of economic growth. “I am not some sort of flight-shaming eco warrior,” she told industry leaders recently.
But opposition is fierce particularly from climate campaigners and local residents who fear the impact on noise pollution air quality and emissions.
Gatwick has until April to prove it can meet these conditions before ministers make their final call. If approved construction on the £2.2bn privately funded expansion could start almost immediately.
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