How Gatwick’s planned airport expansion will be built over five years

The public consultation on the airport’s plans to bring the existing northern runway into routine use began yesterday.

According to the consultation documents, the core airfield works would take approximately five years from 2024 to 2029, with further works continuing at a lower intensity over the period to 2038.

The consultation adds: “The timing of the project would be dependent on the timing of securing development consent and the discharge of the associated requirements. The indicative construction programme is based on construction commencing in 2024.

“The programme for the main airfield construction works would be of approximately five years duration, enabling the altered northern runway and taxiways to be complete and fully operational in combination with the main runway in 2029.”

Indicative construction phasing

A workforce of around 1,300 workers would be required during the peak periods of construction, which is expected to occur in winter 2026/27.

The airport said it owns or is in control of most of the land needed to deliver the proposals, but as part of the DCO application, it “will be seeking powers to compulsorily acquire the additional land where required”.

The consultation adds: “Where land is required, we are committed to reaching agreement with affected landowners for the private acquisition of land wherever possible.”

The consultation comes after Gatwick last month announced plans to reposition the centre line of its northern runway north by 12m to facilitate the expansion.

According to the airport the amendment to the runway centre positioning would meet international safety standards required to let Gatwick operate as a dual-runway airport.

Gatwick Airport chief executive Stewart Wingate emphasised the benefits of the scheme.

Wingate said the proposals “will help boost our economy, maintain competition within the London market, open up new connections and support a Global Britain”.

He added: They will also open up exciting new employment opportunities, create additional jobs and further enable travel to visit family and friends, take a leisure break or foster trade and business links.  Our proposals are forward looking and seek to bring significant benefits for our region.

“I am confident in our future and very pleased to present these proposals for public consultation. We would like to hear views from local residents and anyone interested in our proposals."

The consultation closes on 1 December 2021.

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