Gatwick Airport kicks off process to bring standby runway into use

Gatwick Airport has formally launched the process to bring its standby runway into routine use, by submitting a notice to the Planning Inspectorate of its intention to apply for development permission.

The plan - dubbed by local residents as a ‘second runway by stealth’ - would see the existing standby runway at the airport in West Sussex come into regular use in addition to the existing primary runway.

Its notice to the Planning Inspectorate marked the first step in the Development Consent Order application process, which will be followed by a scoping request to the inspectorate next month.

A public consultation would be held as part of the process in 2020.

“As the biggest private investments in our region for many years, the start of the process to use our existing northern runway is a significant milestone,” said Gatwick Airport’s chief planning officer Tim Norwood.

“This project has the capacity to offer significant local economic benefits, new jobs and an exciting future for the region.

“As we take our plans forward, we are committed to working in partnership with our local communities, councils and partners to ensure we grow sustainably and present information in a clear and transparent way, including a more detailed stage of public consultation on the project next year.”

Gatwick Airport - which is owned by French infrastructure giant Vinci and US private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners - lost out to Heathrow last year in the government’s lengthy decision on where to build the next runway in the south east of England.