Stansted and City airports have won permission to redevelop terminals and operate more flights, while Luton is awaiting another decision in April from Alexander on granting a development consent order, having submitted a full planning application to grow from 18 million to 32 million passengers a year.
The airport’s £2.2bn expansion plan would include the redevelopment of an existing emergency runway and move it slightly further away from its sole main runway – meeting aviation safety rules to allow two runways to be routinely used at the same time.
For example, that the airport would be barred from using both runways together if it breaches noise limits, which would be independently reviewed; or if it does not ensure that at least 54% of journeys to the airport are made by public transport – partly by limiting any more car parks.
Planning inspectors recommended rejection – and suggested the scheme could only go ahead if Gatwick agreed to meet a range of detailed planning conditions related to noise and surface transport to the airport.
Short-haul passenger jets of the type used by easyJet and most airlines at Gatwick could take off on the second runway – allowing about 389,000 flights a year, about 100,000 more than at present.
