Gatwick's £2.2bn expansion decision delayed in huge blow to UK airport

A decision on whether to bring a second runway at Gatwick Airport into regular use has been delayed by the Government in a blow for the £2.2billion plan.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the Government was "minded to approve" the plan.

However, the deadline for a decision is now being moved to the end of October as key issues persist.

The main stumbling blocks facing the proposals are linked to the environment, specifically noise prevention and public transport provision, according to Sky News, with the Planning Inspectorate making recommendations in these areas.

Despite a second runway already existing at the airport, it cannot be used in conjunction with the main one due to its close proximity. It is currently used as a taxiway, or as a stand-in runway if the first one is inoperable.

Gatwick has proposed moving it 12 metres further away to solve the problem, adding that the second runway would allow for 100,000 more flights annually and would create 14,000 jobs.

However, economists warn against this claim, saying it won’t create new jobs, but it instead "displaces jobs from the wider UK regions".

Dr Alex Chapman, senior economist at The New Economics Foundation, said: "Growing Gatwick will not magic up the economic growth the government so desperately wants. Business air travel has collapsed while expansion will see three times as many tourists leave the country as come in.

"Voters living outside London and the south east will not thank the government for this decision. Expanding airports like Gatwick doesn't create new jobs - it displaces jobs from the wider UK regions, and particularly the domestic tourism industry which is a key source of spending outside London and the south east."

Mr Chapman explained how the country already has a high number of international airports, with Brits able to "catch cheap flights".

He added: "If this government is so desperate for growth, it should focus on investing properly in the vital public services upon which the health of our economy really depends."

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said this week that it supports Gatwick’s plans for growth over the next few years, suggesting it would bring "benefits to consumers".

Today's update comes after Rachel Reeves said last month the government also supported a third runway at Heathrow to help tackle climate issues and increase economic growth.

A spokesperson for the CAA said: "We have considered the implications of the recent Government announcement in relation to the development of a third runway at Heathrow airport.

"Gatwick’s airline and passenger base is significantly different from that using Heathrow and we remain of the view that there are likely to be benefits to consumers in expanding capacity in Gatwick, including in relation to meeting the demands of passengers in the choice of destinations, enhanced competitive pressure on airlines and the greater resilience of airport infrastructure."