Gatwick accepts changes on aircraft noise and public transport in expansion bid
London Gatwick has said it is ready to accept tougher limits on aircraft noise and public transport needs in an effort to get the green light for its expansion plans.
It comes after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander in February announced she is prepared to support expansion of Gatwick airport if the project is adjusted.
An improved noise insulation scheme for local residents was proposed by Gatwick in its response on Friday, along with accepting a call to have 54% of passengers using public transport prior to bringing the northern runway into operation.
Stewart Wingate, London Gatwick's chief executive, said: 'This project represents a £2.2 billion investment, fully funded by our shareholders and it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to make full use of the northern runway.'
Ms Alexander had said the Planning Inspectorate recommended she approves an alternative development consent order (DCO) application for the West Sussex airport's plan to bring its emergency runway into routine use.
The modifications related to 'controls on the operation of the scheme', such as the proportion of passengers who travel to and from the airport by public transport, and noise mitigation.
Ms Alexander is expected to make a final decision by October 27.
Gatwick also called for backing to help reach the 54% target, including support from organisations such as the Department for Transport and the full reinstatement of the Gatwick Express train service.
Fears over potential road congestion could be tackled by an alternative cars-on-the-road limit to be met before first use of the northern runway, Gatwick also proposed.
It said that 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.
The aim would be to ensure any additional road traffic flows can be handled and to avoid congestion.
The proposals are in response to Ms Alexander's February 27 letter stating she is 'minded to grant consent' for the northern runway planning application which asked for feedback on additional conditions recommended by the Planning Inspectorate.
Mr Wingate said: '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.'
He added: '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.'
Gatwick's privately financed project would see it move the emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.
This would enable it to be used for around 100,000 more flights a year.
Gatwick's plan also involves remodelling and replacing existing taxiways – which connect runways to terminals, hangars and other facilities – extending both terminals, and installing new aircraft gates.
The airport says its scheme is 'shovel ready'.
It hopes the upgraded runway will be operational by the end of the decade.
Gatwick says its plans would create £1 billion per year in economic benefits, and generate an additional 14,000 jobs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Inside UK's new £189,000,000 revolutionary ‘very light' transport system
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The motor capital of the UK has received a transport makeover – and it's already going to be expanded. Coventry has spearheaded the Very Light Rail network, which has been described as being like a tram, but better. The vehicles, which can carry 60 passengers, are cheaper and more flexible than traditional railways, and passengers started using the vehicles last month. But it's now been announced that the project, currently in use on two streets in the city centre, is set to be expanded to six new areas. The Department for Transport has released £12million to expand the project into 'growth areas' across the city, including the Coventry Gigafactory at Coventry Airport. Speaking to CoventryLive, Cllr Jim O'Boyle said: 'Coventry passengers deserve a choice of how they travel around our city. 'Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, all of those have choice, so we should have that choice as well.' The transport system, currently in place along Queen Victoria Road and Greyfriars Road, could also expand to Coventry Railway Station, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, Antsy Park, the University of Warwick, and Coventry University. The expansion should be completed by the end of next year, and it's hoped this will bring new jobs to the city centre. Local father and son Graham and Joe Dibbins are train drivers at RailAdventure UK and were among the first to drive the new vehicles. Graham said: 'It's an extraordinary feeling to be involved in such an innovative project and at the same time to be working with my son for the first time in a professional capacity as train drivers.' Joe added: 'It seems unbelievable that I am working with the one person I respect more than anyone else – my dad. The fact that Coventry Very Light Rail is so technologically advanced is simply the icing on the cake.' Cllr O'Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at the city council, said the 'green' CVLR system will 'revolutionise transport in Coventry.' He said: 'Very Light Rail is just the beginning of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality, and provide a reliable and accessible travel option.' The cost of construction is the first thing that sets it apart from traditional trams. The estimated cost per kilometre (0.6 miles) is £10million, compared to £30million for the same distance for tram tracks. The new track sits just under 11 inches (30cm) within the road surface, minimising expensive and time-consuming works to relocate pipes and cables. The VLR system is powered by batteries, meaning that, unlike trams, there is no need for overhead wires. The electric, very light rail system has been touted as a way to bring disused railway lines back into action. There are no definite plans to build ultra-light rail systems in London, but TfL and the London Assembly have discussed and reviewed the option over the years. Major rail operators are said to have shown interest in the very light rail systems, and further trials are planned to start in 2026. In London, the closest to the new train system is the tram network, which still runs across the southern boroughs. The history of London trams goes back to more than 200 years, but there were times it almost disappeared for good. The very light rail bears some similarity to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), a driverless train operating in London since the 1980s on a 24-mile track. DLR is a light metro train, which uses purpose-built tracks, which run mostly outdoors, connecting Canary Wharf, the City, Stratford, Lewisham and Woolwich. Whereas very light rail uses batteries, the DLR gets its power from a bottom-contact third rail system underneath the train. Self-driving vehicles are expected to be on the UK roads by 2026, the government has said, opening the door for more autonomous rail systems. More Trending The Coventry very light rail has been developed to allow autonomous operation in the future. Pedestrians, cyclists and disabled passengers will have 'sufficient provision' on the new routes when they open, the council confirmed. A version of this article was first published on May 7, 2025 Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Inside the new £2,500,000,000 Leeds tram system with airport connection MORE: Donald Trump's travel ban doesn't make sense – here's why MORE: Double decker bus roof ripped off after crashing into railway bridge in South Norwood
North Wales Chronicle
11 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Sir Sadiq Khan urged to seek higher taxes and parking fees for SUVs
London Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on the mayor to take action because of fears that the increasing size of cars is damaging road surfaces, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious injury. The London Assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle weight. It also wants the mayor to request that councils in the capital consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce tighter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles. The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight votes against. SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, with many drivers favouring their higher seating position. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with just 12% a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. The increase in the size of cars has been described as carspreading. Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets 'weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs'. She went on: 'Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads. 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' But AA president Edmund King insisted it is 'up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs'. He added: 'It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive. 'Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car. 'London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change.' A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car. The analysis produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated that the figure rises to 82% for children.
Leader Live
11 hours ago
- Leader Live
Sir Sadiq Khan urged to seek higher taxes and parking fees for SUVs
London Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on the mayor to take action because of fears that the increasing size of cars is damaging road surfaces, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious injury. The London Assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle weight. It also wants the mayor to request that councils in the capital consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce tighter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles. The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight votes against. SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, with many drivers favouring their higher seating position. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with just 12% a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. The increase in the size of cars has been described as carspreading. Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets 'weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs'. She went on: 'Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads. 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' But AA president Edmund King insisted it is 'up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs'. He added: 'It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive. 'Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car. 'London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change.' A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car. The analysis produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated that the figure rises to 82% for children.
