'Seize £2.2bn shovel-ready Gatwick expansion plan,' new transport sec urged
James ChappleA coalition of more than 100,000 businesses have come together to urge the UK’s new transport secretary Heidi Alexander to back plans to bring Gatwick airport’s northern runway into routine use, which they say could unlock a £1 billion a year economic boost and create 14,000 jobs.
Campaigners say the proposal to turn Gatwick’s backup runway into second operational runway was a "2.2 billion shovel-ready" investment that came privately financed and could be operational by the end of the decade.
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Gatwick Diamond Initiative have each written to Alexander, who took over from Louise Haigh last month, urging her to grasp the opportunity to "unlock growth, boost the economy and create jobs". In total, 174 groups representing nearly 105,000 businesses are represented.
The Planning Inspectorate is currently running the rule over the proposal, and is shortly expected to present a recommendation to government. A decision could then be made early next year, which would be subject to government approval.
In a letter to government, the lobby groups claim that without "robust" aviation links, London risked losing its competitive edge. "London Gatwick’s northern runway is a vital step for the South East economy and beyond," said Brett North, chair of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative, adding there would be "no burden on the taxpayer".
Karim Fatehi MBE, chief executive of the London Chamber, said London’s status as "the pre-eminent global city for business, tourism and trade" relied heavily on investment in its transport network. "Without robust aviation links, London risks losing its competitive edge on the international stage."
Reacting to a letter published in the Daily Mail at the weekend, in a post to X (formerly Twitter), Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions (Cagne) said: "Thought businesses were meant to be going green so how can they write such a letter when it’s not feasible for a new runway at Gatwick airport? Jobs will go as aviation pays the price as a major polluter."
Between London’s major airports, excluding Heathrow, there are proposals in place to accommodate more than 50 million additional air passengers by 2050 compared with 2019 levels.
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