London Gatwick’s sustainable growth plans accepted for ‘examination’
-
Airport’s plan to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway, accepted for detailed scrutiny at the next (Examination) stage of the planning process
-
Ahead of examination, the public, local communities and stakeholders will be invited to register as an ‘interested party’ so they can participate and provide their views on the proposals
-
London Gatwick’s sustainable growth plans would create around 14,000 new jobs and inject £1 billion into the region’s economy every year
London Gatwick’s planning application to bring the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway, has today (3 August) been accepted for detailed examination by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).
The planning application - known as a Development Consent Order (DCO) - was submitted on 6 July and sets out the airport’s plans to make best use of its existing infrastructure to unlock new capacity and improve airport resilience, in line with government policy.
By accepting London Gatwick’s application, the Planning Inspectorate – acting on behalf of the Government - has demonstrated it is satisfied that the airport’s consultation was conducted properly and that the application can progress to the examination phase.
The airport’s application has been shaped by a programme of detailed assessments, including community and stakeholder engagements, and public consultations spanning nearly two years. A statutory public consultation took place in Autumn 2021, followed by a second focused public consultation in Summer 2022 on the airport’s revised plans for the roads around the airport.
A period of detailed and rigorous examination of the proposals by a panel of independent experts will follow, at a date set by the Planning Inspectorate. This process is likely to take up to 18 months, including six months of examination, which will include written submissions and public hearings.
Ahead of the examination, the public – including residents in local communities and other stakeholders - will be able to register with the Planning Inspectorate to become an ‘interested party’. This will enable them to participate and provide their views and feedback on the proposals during examination.
Details on how interested parties can register their interest in taking part in the examination stage will be widely publicised by the airport. More information on the DCO planning process and how to engage with it can be found here.
Tim Norwood, Chief Planning Officer, London Gatwick, said: “We are pleased that the application to take forward our Northern Runway plans has been accepted by the Planning Inspectorate and will now progress to the examination stage of the DCO planning process.
“In coming weeks, the airport will let residents and other stakeholders know how they can register their interest in taking part in the examination stage of the planning process, so they can submit comments and feedback on our important proposals."
London Gatwick’s DCO application is now available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
NOTES
The Northern Runway is currently limited to acting as a taxiway, and is only available for use as a runway when the Main Runway is out of use. Today’s application proposes repositioning the centre line of the Northern Runway 12 metres north to allow dual runway operations, aligning with international safety standards. The Northern Runway would be used for departing flights only.
Construction could start in 2025 and be completed and ready for operational use by the end of the decade. The proposals are low impact, with most construction taking place within the current airport boundary. If approved, the plans would help the airport meet future passenger demand by serving around 75 million passengers a year by the late 2030s
By investing in its long-term future, London Gatwick will also enhance the crucial economic role it plays by creating around 14,000 new jobs and injecting £1 billion into the region’s economy every year. This growth would come from increased tourism, trade, supply-chain, and other business opportunities.
London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport and is a vital piece of national infrastructure that helps drive both the regional and national economy. More than 40 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 45 long-haul destinations. The airport is focused on rebuilding and growing sustainably in the long term. It has ambitious plans to be a net zero airport by 2030 and increase capacity by bringing its Northern runway into routine use. Vinci Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99% interest.
The world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates 72 airports in 13 countries. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructure and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to an international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emissions across its entire network by 2050.
For more information:
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) 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. With decarbonization central to our investment thesis, we are well positioned to support the global energy transition. Headquartered in New York, GIP has offices in Brisbane, Dallas, Delhi, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Mumbai, Singapore, Stamford and Sydney.
GIP has approximately $100 billion in assets under management. Our portfolio companies have combined annual revenues of approximately $80 billion and employ over 100,000 people. We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our investors' capital and to create positive economic impact for communities. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.
