London Gatwick responds to Secretary of State on Northern Runway planning application
- London Gatwick’s response to Secretary of State’s “minded to grant consent” letter incorporates feedback on key conditions related to noise and public transport
- Interested parties can review and respond to London Gatwick’s submission via the Planning Inspectorate website
- Secretary of State expected to make final decision by 27 October
London Gatwick has responded to the Secretary of State for Transport’s letter of 27 February stating she is “minded to grant consent” for the Northern Runway planning application and requesting feedback on additional conditions recommended by the Planning Inspectorate.
In its response London Gatwick has stated it will accept stricter limits on aircraft noise and has put forward an improved noise insulation scheme for local residents.
London Gatwick has also accepted a requirement to have 54% of passengers using public transport prior to bringing the Northern Runway into operation and has reiterated the need for third parties, including the Department for Transport, to support delivery of the necessary conditions and improvements required to meet this target. This would include, for example, reinstating the full Gatwick Express train service.
Given the reliance on other parties to achieve this 54% target, should it not be achieved then London Gatwick has also proposed an alternative cars-on-the-road limit to be met before first use of the Northern Runway to address concerns about possible road congestion. Furthermore, if neither the 54% transport mode share or the cars-on-the-road limit are met, then use of the Northern Runway would be delayed until £350m of road improvements have been completed. This would make sure any additional road traffic flows can be accommodated and any congestion avoided.
London Gatwick has also responded to the Secretary of State on a number of other matters including measures to strengthen sustainable design and reduce emissions.
Stewart Wingate, CEO, London Gatwick said: “This project represents a £2.2billion investment, fully funded by our shareholders and it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to make full use of the Northern Runway. We are confident that our amended proposals will allow us to grow sustainably and meet passenger demand, while addressing the matters raised by the Secretary of State in her letter, including noise and environmental impacts.
“Growth is at the heart of the Government’s agenda and we are fully supportive of the drive to work with businesses to create good quality jobs, reignite the economy and drive innovation around the country. Our plans will create 14,000 jobs and generate £1billion a year in economic benefits. By increasing resilience and capacity we can also support the UK’s position as a leader in global connectivity and deliver substantial trade and economic growth in the South East and beyond.
“We look forward to receiving the Secretary of State’s final decision later this year."
London Gatwick submitted its Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on 6 July 2023. The application was accepted on 3 August 2023 and a detailed six-month public examination concluded in August 2024. The Planning Inspectorate submitted its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport on 27 November 2024. On 27 February 2025 the Secretary of State for Transport said she was “minded to grant consent” to the application. Stating that the Planning Inspectorate had recommended a range of operational controls on the scheme (not all of which had been considered during the Examination) she provided additional time to seek views from London Gatwick and other parties on these provisions, prior to making a final decision which is expected by 27 October 2025.
- Air noise limits and noise contour
A noise contour is a line on a map connecting points with the same average noise level. The contour, which is expressed as a km2 area, is considered to give the clearest and simplest indication of the size of area affected by aircraft noise in line with government guidance. London Gatwick has outlined in its response that it will accept the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation to impose more restrictive noise controls by reducing the noise limits for aircraft operations from 135km2 to 125km2 from the start of the northern runway opening, but has asked for clarification on the evidence and rationale for this that was put forward during the examination.
Reducing the contour size may restrict the number and type of aircraft that can be used at the airport and therefore the number of connections and destinations on offer to passengers.
- Noise Insulation Scheme
The airport has outlined a position similar to the scheme recently approved for London Luton, which goes well beyond existing standards. This includes tiered financial payments for residents in residential properties impacted by noise between 54 and 57dB and 57 and 60dB. Residential properties impacted by noise levels of 60dB and above will be eligible for full noise insulation (with no financial cap).
- Travel and transport
London Gatwick has a strong track record of investing in public transport initiatives, including a contribution of over £40m to the recently improved Gatwick Airport Railway Station, and has committed to fund a number of sustainable transport proposals through legally binding agreements.
With 43 million annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top ten airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5 billion GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15 million people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2 billion sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. Vinci Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting the territories’ local climate transition.
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Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading infrastructure investor that specializes in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors.
GIP has approximately $170 billion in assets under management. GIP believes that its focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with its deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables it to be responsible stewards of investor capital and to create positive economic impact for communities.
