London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – London Gatwick Airport’s £2.2bn expansion faces legal challenge from local group Cagne, as new runway plans spark court action over noise and environment.
As reported by The Telegraph, Gatwick Airport’s second runway plan faces possible immediate judicial review.
Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), a local group, will challenge the Labour Government’s approval of Gatwick’s second runway.
The airport said the new runway could open by “the turn of the decade” and indicated passenger flight costs may stay unchanged.
What did Sally Pavey say about the Gatwick legal challenge?
Sally Pavey, chairman of Cagne, stated,
“We have our legal team going through the announcement that the secretary of state has made, and we will obviously then be finding the grounds for the judicial review.”
She said,
“We’re funded totally by local residents,”
adding,
“If the judicial review is accepted, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be – Luton has been accepted on climate change reasons – we would then obviously be looking to residents to support us further, as well as parish councils and town councils.”
What did Stewart Wingate say about the new runway and flight costs?
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s longtime CEO and now with parent company Vinci Airports, confirmed a new runway could be operational by “the turn of the decade.”
He said,
“We think around the turn of the decade is the earliest that we’ll start to see planes departing off the northern runway.”
When questioned on ticket costs, Mr Wingate said airport fees “will remain largely unchanged in real terms.”
He stated,
“One of the key attributes of the proposals of Gatwick is that they’re relatively straightforward.”
Mr Wingate added,
“They are proposals which are virtually entirely built on land that we already own and operate, and therefore the price tag associated with this development – which is the development of the airport, the terminals and the local road network, at £2.2bn – means that the airport charges will remain in real terms, in similar levels, to what they are today.”
Referring to the judicial review challenge, he said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
How will Gatwick’s new runway affect flight paths and noise?
Over ten years ago, Cagne was established to oppose Gatwick flight path changes, responding to residents’ complaints about noise.
The group has grown into a broad anti-Gatwick organisation, challenging flight path changes and rising noise, claiming to be a major “campaigning and lobbying force.”
Gatwick’s £2.2bn expansion plans were approved on Sunday night by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
The airport will move its backup runway, mainly used for planes to taxi, 12 metres (40ft) to the north. This wider space will let both runways be used at the same time, which isn’t possible now.
How are Labour and Conservatives divided over Gatwick expansion?
Airport expansion has sparked debate between the current Labour government and past Tory administrations.
Labour pushed airport expansion despite left-wing opposition, after Conservatives had blocked any growth for 13 years, leading up to 2024.
Heidi Alexander said to airport bosses last year she was “no flight-shaming eco-warrior.”
What did the government say about Gatwick expansion plans?
A government source stated,
“The transport secretary has cleared Gatwick expansion for take-off. With capacity constraints holding back business, trade and tourism, this is a no-brainer for growth. This government has taken unprecedented steps to get this done, navigating a needlessly complex planning system, which our reforms will simplify in future.”
They added,
“It is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election. Any airport expansion must be delivered in line with our legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements.”
Rachel Reeves’ views on Gatwick’s second runway and holiday costs
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said a second Gatwick runway could make holidays cheaper.
During her visit to Gatwick airport, she said,
“Today, this Government are backing a second runway here at Gatwick. That’s in addition to our commitments to a third runway at Heathrow, small modular reactors and a new nuclear power station in Suffolk, backing energy projects and transport projects right around the country.”
Ms Reeves added,
“This extra runway at Gatwick will mean that people going on holiday will have a greater choice of destinations, it will mean lower costs for a family holiday. And it will also mean more good jobs paying decent wages through this injection of cash into our economy.”
What did Richard Holden say about Gatwick’s second runway?
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden welcomed Gatwick’s second runway approval.
He added,
“If done with sensible mitigations, it will be a vital step towards driving economic growth, improving connectivity, and strengthening Britain’s position on the global stage. But let’s be clear, this decision should have been made months ago.”
Key details about the Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport officially opened in 1958, with flights starting in 1936. In 2024, it handled 43.2 million passengers and managed up to 55 aircraft movements per hour.
The airport has two terminals, North and South, and primarily uses a single main runway. A northern secondary runway is being upgraded for routine use to increase capacity.