Proposals
Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) has submitted to the Secretary of State proposals to enable dual runway operations at Gatwick Airport. They propose to alter the existing northern runway, lift restrictions on the use of the northern runway and deliver the upgrades or additional facilities and infrastructure required to increase the passenger throughput capacity of the airport. This includes upgrade works to surface access routes which lead to the airport.
For full details of the proposals, please visit the National Infrastructure Planning project website.
Planning Inspectorate’s examination update
The Planning Inspectorate was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport as the Examining Authority (ExA). The Examination into GAL’s proposals opened on 27 February 2024 and concluded on 27 August 2024. The ExA submitted their report to the Secretary of State on 27 November 2024, who on 27 February 2025 issued a ‘minded to’ decision on to grant consent with conditions. The Secretary of State also invited GAL to provide a response to the matters raised in their ‘minded to decision’. GAL submitted their response to the ExA on 24 April 2025. The Secretary of State subsequently invited interested parties, including Tandridge District Council, to provide any comments on GAL’s response by 9 June 2025.
You can view the relevant correspondence including GAL’s response to the Secretary of State’s ‘minded to’ decision on the Planning Inspectorate’s Examination webpage.
You can also find out through the project web pages how to take part and sign up to receive e-mail updates.
Background context
Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) is seeking to bring its northern ‘standby’ runway, which is currently only used for emergency purposes or where the main runway is closed for maintenance, into routine operational use. This is referred to by the airport operator as the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project. Given the significant scale of the Northern Runway Project, it is defined as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) to be determined by the Secretary of State through a process known as a Development Consent Order (DCO). The Council is not the decision making authority and is a formal consultee in the process.
The Council has made representations, with the impacts on air quality, noise and traffic being the key concerns raised. The Council is also seeking to work with Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) to ensure if permission is granted then any significant adverse impacts that cannot be avoided are mitigated or compensated for through a work programme and community projects funded by GAL.
The Council is working jointly with other Councils whose areas either directly host development and /or are affected by the impacts of the development.
The examination has reached the point where it is with the Secretary of State for Transport to make their final decision. This is currently scheduled to be made by 27 October 2025.
Next steps
Interested parties to respond by 9 June 2025. The Secretary of State will then review and make their final decision by 27 October 2025.
Further information