Activists fighting the growth of Gatwick Airport have been unsuccessful in their two High Court petitions against the government, though they are now contemplating an appeal. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously greenlit a 2.2 billion pound initiative to shift the airport’s emergency runway 12 metres north, a change designed to facilitate operations on two runways.
Groups including Cagne and individual campaigner Peter Barclay argued during January hearings that the project was legally flawed, specifically citing a failure by the government to properly measure climate repercussions. However, Mr Justice Mould dismissed the claims, stating that the project would not significantly hinder national net zero commitments. Gatwick officials described the ruling as a victory for common sense.
The expansion aims to boost the airport’s annual flight capacity from approximately 280,000 to 389,000 by the late 2030s. While some observers, such as travel journalist Simon Calder, have lauded the project as a major economic benefit for the region, community groups remain dissatisfied. Members of Cagne stated they do not view this judgment as final and intend to support local residents concerned about issues like noise pollution, air quality, and infrastructure strain.
Mr Barclay highlighted that the decision disregarded warnings from the Climate Change Committee regarding airport growth. Despite these objections, the Department for Transport maintained that the project strikes a necessary balance between environmental goals and economic growth, promising to generate 14,000 jobs and an annual billion-pound contribution to the UK economy.