A legal challenge has been initiated by a campaign group known as Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) regarding the planned expansion of Gatwick Airport. The group contends that the government’s approval of a second operating runway at the West Sussex airport is flawed, citing inadequate assessment of the project’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, noise pollution, and air quality.
The Department for Transport has refrained from commenting on the matter, as it is currently under legal review. In response, a London Gatwick spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the upcoming judicial claim against the Northern Runway Project and stated that they would assess their position in light of future developments in the legal proceedings.
The plans for Gatwick’s second runway, submitted for consideration in July 2023, involve a £2.2 billion privately financed project. This includes moving the existing backup runway to enable its operation alongside other developments, such as expanding terminal facilities. The airport anticipates that the expansion could lead to an increase of over 100,000 flights annually by the late 2030s, raising passenger numbers to approximately 80 million.
Supporters of the project, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, have argued that the expansion would create thousands of jobs and attract significant investment, while also enhancing travel destinations and reducing holiday costs for families. However, CAGNE has raised concerns regarding the economic and environmental feasibility of the expansion.
This legal action is part of a broader trend, as approvals for expansions at various UK airports have been noted, including a recent one for Luton Airport in April. The government has also expressed support for a third runway at Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v860lg15mo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss