Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said Gatwick Airport's £2.2 billion second runway approval shows the Government is "backing builders, not blockers".
The privately-financed project will move the West Sussex airport's emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling departures of narrow-bodied aircraft including Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.
The expansion will allow approximately 100,000 additional flights annually and could generate thousands of jobs.
Reeves said:“This Government promised to kickstart the economy – and we are.
“A second runway at Gatwick means thousands of more jobs and billions more in investment for the economy.”
She added: “By slashing red tape and transforming the planning system to get Britain building again we are investing in this country’s renewal and building an economy that works for working people.”
Industry welcomes decision
Stewart Wingate, Vinci Airports managing director for the UK and former Gatwick chief executive, said: “After a lengthy and rigorous planning process, we welcome the Government’s approval of plans to bring our Northern Runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline.
“This is another important gateway in the planning process for this £2.2bn investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick and the UK and create thousands of jobs.
However, some local campaigners are opposed to expansion, expressing concerns about the impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision and wastewater treatment. Gatwick insists it has conducted “full and thorough assessments” of those issues.
The airport says its plans will create £1 billion per year in economic benefits, and generate an additional 14,000 jobs.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
