Transport secretary clears £2.2bn Gatwick expansion as critics warn of climate and community fallout

The government has approved Gatwick airport’s £2.2bn second runway project, paving the way for an additional 100,000 flights a year despite fierce opposition from environmental groups and local campaigners.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander gave the long-awaited green light on Sunday, hailing the expansion as a “no-brainer” for economic growth. The West Sussex hub plans to shift its emergency runway 12 metres north, allowing it to serve narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Officials claim the project will generate 14,000 jobs and inject up to £1bn into the economy, with the first flights from the new runway expected by 2029.

A government source said ministers were determined to push the project through after the Planning Inspectorate initially recommended against approval earlier this year unless significant modifications were made. Adjustments on noise mitigation and passenger transport have since been incorporated, with promises of greater use of trains and buses.

The government also insists local residents will not be left behind. Households affected by the additional noise could be offered compensation packages ranging from triple-glazing costs to full relocation support, including estate agent fees and stamp duty. Ministers are confident the scheme can withstand legal challenges, saying it is compatible with the UK’s legally binding carbon targets.

“This government has taken unprecedented steps to get this done, navigating a needlessly complex planning system,” a source said. “Planes could be taking off from a new runway before the next general election.”

The decision has been welcomed by Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Richard Holden, who described the move as “vital for economic growth, connectivity, and strengthening Britain’s global position”. However, he accused ministers of dithering, adding: “This should have been decided months ago.”

Not everyone is convinced. Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, called the plan a “disaster” that “ignores basic climate science” and risks derailing efforts to cut emissions. He accused Labour of “wheeling out the same nonsense about growth, but at what cost? More pollution, more noise, and no real economic benefit.”

Local opposition has also been swift. CAGNE, a coalition of aviation community and environment groups across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, said it was preparing to launch a judicial review. The group condemned the government for failing to make Gatwick pay for additional infrastructure such as wastewater treatment facilities. “This government cares little for the environmental impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwick’s neighbours,” it said.

Campaign group Stay Grounded accused ministers of “prioritising profit at the expense of us all,” while Friends of the Earth highlighted the contradiction of approving airport expansion at a time when aviation emissions are rising and extreme climate events—from floods to wildfires—are intensifying.

Gatwick insists it has carried out “full and thorough assessments” of issues ranging from surface transport to housing demand. The airport argues that the runway is essential to compete with rival hubs and support Britain’s post-Brexit economic ambitions.

The row comes as Heathrow pushes forward with its own £50bn third runway plan, which would add more than 750 flights a day over London. Together, the expansions at Britain’s two largest airports are expected to dominate the political and legal landscape for years, testing the balance between economic growth and climate responsibility.

For now, Gatwick’s backers are celebrating a victory they say will secure Britain’s place in global aviation. Opponents, however, are already sharpening their legal arguments, warning that the new runway could come at a catastrophic cost to both local communities and the planet