A second runway at Gatwick Airport has been backed by government, providing measures to reduce noise are put in place.<\/p>\n

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “minded to approve” the expansion. Some MPs, local authorities and residents are\u00a0strongly opposed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The airport wants to move its northern runway, which is currently only used for taxiing or as a back up, and make it operational by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n

The transport secretary’s support does not guarantee the expansion will go ahead as it would still need planning permission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If permission is granted, work would start almost immediately, the BBC understands. The \u00a32.2bn expansion will be funded through private investment.<\/p>\n

“I am issuing a minded to approve decision that provides some additional time to seek views from all parties on the provisions, prior to a final decision,” Alexander said in a written ministerial statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Gatwick has until 24 April to respond to demands for it to include measures, such as noise mitigation and having a proportion of passengers travelling to the airport via public transport, in its overall plans before a final decision will be made in October.<\/p>\n

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport chief executive, said following the latest announcement that the government has “outlined a clear pathway to full approval later in the year” and that the airport would “engage fully” in the process.<\/p>\n

The Transport Secretary’s support for expansion comes as the government is looking at ways to boost economic growth in a bid to boost living standards, with\u00a0 Chancellor Rachel Reeves backing a third runway at Heathrow last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gatwick, in West Sussex, is Europe’s busiest single runway airport, with more than 40 million passengers using it last year.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Alexander told industry leaders aviation was good for economic growth and said she was “not some sort of\u00a0 flight-shaming eco warrior<\/a>“.<\/p>\n

The growth arguments for expanding Heathrow and Gatwick, the UK’s two largest airports, differ with the former catering for more freight traffic relating to international goods trade.<\/p>\n

An extra runway at Gatwick would see capacity increased for holidaymakers and business travellers, particularly for short-haul destinations, as opposed to Heathrow’s longer-haul flights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"