Public consultation on changes to road improvements linked to Gatwick’s plan to bring a second runaway into regular use started today (Tuesday).
The new consultation will run for just over six weeks, until 11:59pm on July 27.
The road design changes are in response to feedback received during an autumn 2021 consultation on the airport’s northern runway plans.
In other updates, the airport is seeking feedback on plans to cut new car parking spaces by 35% and the need for 1,250 new hotel rooms rather than 1,000 originally envisaged. This would include conversion of an existing office block and creation of new office space.
The airport’s proposal would see the northern runway brought into routine use for departing aircraft, by repositioning its centreline further north by 12 metres – enabling dual runway operations with the main runway.
The northern runway could be operational by summer 2029.
The majority of the associated construction work would be contained within the existing airport boundary and the cost – approximately £500 million – will be privately financed, according to Gatwick.
The airport insists the proposals are in line with government policy of making best use of existing runways and would generate around 18,400 additional jobs by 2038 and an additional expected £1.5 billion annual added value to the region.
Chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “Following our original northern runway consultation in the autumn of 2021, we listened to feedback and have subsequently changed several aspects of our proposals, particularly those related to the roads around the airport.
“We’re keen to get further feedback on these amended proposals, and on the other project updates published today, to help us continue to refine our plans.”