A decision on £2.2 billion plans to bring Gatwick’s standby second runway into regular use is expected to be made by the government this week.
The scheme would involve moving the landing strip 12 metres further away from the main runway, while the airport’s two terminals would be extended including new gates and aircraft stands.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is due to announce whether the plans, which would be privately funded, have been approved within days.
The green light would enable the airport to expand its annual passenger numbers from 43 million to 75 million.
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate, who expected a decision on or before Thursday (February 27), told the Sunday Times the second runway could be operational at the turn of the decade – probably before works starts on a third strip at Heathrow.
He said: “Presuming that the government does want this to go ahead, you have to make sure that the planning conditions are such that they allow our investors to press the button.”
Whitewall officials have reportedly been looking at whether to impose planning rules that require to new runway to open only if 54% of passengers use public transport to reach the airport.
A compromise could be to limit new car parking spaces until the minimum percentage is reached.
Wingate was reported by the newspaper as saying: “We’re talking about £2.2 billion of investment. So we certainly only do that on the proviso that we can utilise the northern runway as we have set out.”
Local campaigners against expansion of Gatwick have pledged to instigate judicial reviews if the green light is given.
The Campaign Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions (Cagne) wrote to chancellor Rachel Reeves last week warning that if the new runway is permitted, “there is currently no funding for the infrastructure that will be required for this airport’s operations when it becomes as large as Heathrow is today”.
The plan is awaiting development consent after planning inspectors submitted a report to the government in November, with the transport secretary required to make a decision within three months.
The airport believes inbound tourism to the UK could grow by 61% if the northern runway plans are approved.
Gatwick said: “This much needed growth plan meets the government’s test of making best use of existing infrastructure and maximising growth. Because the runway already exists, the project will all be completed with little disruption, and we will continue to be Europe’s most efficient single runway airport until the project is complete.”