Campaign Group Launches Legal Challenge Against Gatwick Expansion

A campaign group has launched a legal challenge over plans to expand Gatwick Airport.

Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) argues that the government’s decision to approve a second operating runway at the West Sussex airport was flawed.

The group claims the project’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, air quality, and noise pollution was not properly assessed, and is urging Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to overturn the decision.

A spokesperson for London Gatwick confirmed the airport was aware of the prospective judicial claim against the Northern Runway Project, adding:

“Dependent on the next steps, we will determine our position and the extent of our involvement in legal proceedings.”

Plans for the £2.2 billion privately funded project were submitted in July 2023.

The scheme involves repositioning the existing standby runway to operate alongside the main runway, expanding terminals, and upgrading infrastructure.

The development — approved by the government earlier this year — is expected to enable more than 100,000 additional flights annually by the late 2030s, increasing passenger capacity to up to 80 million.

CAGNE Chair Sally Pavey said:

“The long-term effects of increased emissions on future generations and the planet cannot be addressed with aviation profits.

"This decision to allow Gatwick’s expansion makes no economic or ethical sense, so we must challenge it through the legal process.”

The airport’s expansion is one of several recent approvals for UK airports, including Luton earlier this year, while the government continues to back a third runway at Heathrow.