Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) proposes alterations to bring the existing northern (standby/maintenance) runway at Gatwick Airport into routine use alongside the main runway, enabling the dual operation of both runways.
The scheme, known as the Northern Runway Project (NRP), is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) because throughput at the airport would increase by over 10 million passengers per annum (mppa), and requires development consent.
The NRP comprises of the following works, most of which would be contained within the existing airport boundary:
- repositioning of the Northern Runway (12 metres north) and reconfiguration of taxiways
- expansion of the terminal buildings
- a new pier and amendments to aircraft stands
- other airport facilities, including a waste facility, a new hangar and new fire training grounds
- new office space and hotel rooms
- an additional 18,500 car parking spaces
- road improvement works
- environmental and mitigation measures
The project would further increase Gatwick’s passenger throughput to approximately 75.6mppa by 2038, an increase of approximately 13.2mppa (over the ‘without project’ projection of 62.4mppa). By 2047, passenger throughput would be approximately 80.2mppa, an increase of 13mppa over the ‘without project’ projection of 67.2mppa.
GAL consulted on the draft proposal from 9 September to 1 December 2021. Information about the project, including the latest news about its development, is available on the Gatwick Airport Limited website.
The county council’s formal response to the consultation was approved in November 2021:
In summer 2022, GAL consulted on potential highway design changes. The county council’s formal response to the consultation was approved in July 2022.
The Development Consent Order (DCO) application was submitted in July 2023 and accepted by PINS in August 2023. Examination of the application ran for 6 months from 27 February to 27 August 2024. A decision was due in late February 2025.
On 27 February 2025, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a delay in the final decision on the DCO for the Northern Runway Project (NRP). The new decision date is 27 October 2025.
The examining authority raised concerns about the DCO submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL). It recommended that approval should only be given if GAL includes specific changes in a revised DCO. These changes involve several mitigations and controls. Following this, consultation has been undertaken by the Secretary of State on the proposed changes.
If consent is awarded, it is anticipated that the Northern Runway will be operational by 2030 and the construction of other elements continuing until 2038.
More information, including the examining authority report and other formal documentation about the DCO process, is available on the PINS website - Gatwick Airport Northern Runway.