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Tue, 04 Aug 2026

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 Campaigners denied appeal over Gatwick expansion

An application to stop the two-runway operation is rejected, with judges calling it "unarguable".
Gatwick Airport expansion plans, worth £2.2bn, have been upheld by the Court of Appeal after campaigners failed to challenge the decision. The airport will move its emergency runway 12m north to accommodate 100,000 more flights per year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander approved the plans in September, despite concerns over climate impact and the proximity of Gatwick to Heathrow Airport. A previous court ruling dismissed challenges to the expansion, finding that it would not significantly affect the government's ability to meet carbon reduction targets. The Court of Appeal has now rejected an appeal bid by campaigners, stating that there is no real prospect of success. The expansion will allow the airport to handle narrow-bodied planes and create 14,000 new jobs, with a £1bn annual economic boost. Campaigners have expressed disappointment with the decision, claiming that it will harm local residents and the climate.