Campaigners confirm legal challenge to Gatwick expansion 

Campaigners have confirmed that a legal challenge has been filed against plans to add a second operating runway to Gatwick. 

 

Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) opposes expansion of the airport and has filed a judicial review claim against the decision.

 

Confirmation of the legal action follows transport secretary Heidi Alexander being put on notice by the group earlier this month following the government’s decision to grant development consent for the expansion.

 

Cagne claims the impact of the expansion on climate change has not been properly assessed and development consent should be not have been granted as a result.

 

Plans for the £2.2 billion expansion were submitted in July 2023, involving the repurposing of the current back-up runway at Gatwick, allowing it to operate alongside the main runway, paving the way for up to 100,000 extra flights by the late 2030s.

 

Solicitor Julia Eriksen, who represents Cagne at law firm Leigh Day, said: “The impact of a second runway at Gatwick airport will undoubtedly be significant, and a thorough evaluation of the effects of this on the environment should be a key part of any proposal. 

 

“However, our client says that the environmental impact has not been properly assessed, and that development consent has been granted despite a number of flaws in the planning application. 

 

“After calling on the transport secretary to revoke development consent in a pre-action letter, Cagne is now pursuing a judicial review challenge.” 

 

The group’s chair Sally Pavey said: “The only guarantees Gatwick offered were significant increases in noise and more pressure on our sewage system, whilst increasing global warming to allow a huge increase in seasonal leisure flights exporting sterling out of the UK purse. 

 

“It is absolutely shameful that residents are forced to take legal action to hold a government to account. Months were spent examining the Gatwick submissions and yet a government can just ignore the outcome for refusal and grant unsustainable growth at any price to the local environment and the planet.” 

 

She added: “To build a brighter future you must look to what is sustainable, to what legacy we wish to leave future generations.”

 

Travel Weekly has approached Gatwick for comment.