Gatwick Airport has cleared a major legal hurdle in its £2.2 billion expansion plans after campaigners failed in their attempt to take their challenge against the Government’s approval of a second runway project to the Court of Appeal.
The decision removes a significant obstacle for one of Britain’s biggest aviation infrastructure projects, which aims to transform Gatwick’s existing emergency runway into a fully operational facility capable of handling around 100,000 additional flights a year.
The expansion, approved by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander in September, will allow the airport to accommodate departures from narrow-bodied aircraft including Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. The first flights from the upgraded runway are expected in 2030.
Campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) and campaigner Peter Barclay had challenged the Department for Transport’s decision, arguing that ministers had failed to properly consider the environmental consequences of the development, including its impact on the UK’s climate targets.
The High Court rejected the challenge in June, ruling that the Government was entitled to approve the project despite potential concerns over emissions. The Court of Appeal has now dismissed a further attempt to overturn that decision, with senior judges concluding that the arguments raised had no realistic prospect of success.
Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove described the earlier ruling as “detailed and thorough”, saying there were no compelling reasons for a further hearing.
The Government welcomed the decision, arguing that Gatwick’s expansion would strengthen Britain’s connectivity and support economic growth. Ms Alexander said the project would create thousands of jobs, increase passenger capacity and help attract international investment.
Gatwick has previously said the privately funded scheme could provide a £1 billion annual boost to the economy, while ministers have highlighted investment in sustainable aviation fuels and emissions reduction measures.
The ruling comes as the aviation sector faces mounting pressure to expand capacity while reducing its environmental impact. For Gatwick, however, the decision marks a crucial step towards turning a long-discussed runway project into reality after years of uncertainty.
The airport, currently the UK’s second busiest, expects construction progress to move ahead with operations from the new runway targeted for 2030.
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