Gatwick submits expansion proposals
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London Gatwick airport has submitted its expansion proposals to the Airports Commission, giving details of a second runway to the south of the current site.
The proposals confirm our report last week that Gatwick wants to implement a constellation system whereby the UK’s hub status is shared between itself, Heathrow and Stansted, which would also eventually receive another runway.
Stewart Wingate, London Gatwick chief executive said: “London is the best connected city in the world today because the UK’s aviation industry is one of the most competitive and innovative. Our proposal to the Airports Commission builds on this foundation and would ensure that the UK has an airports policy which offers the additional capacity that Britain needs, improves the resilience of the airports system and, above all, can be delivered.
“Our evidence shows clearly that an additional runway at Gatwick would best serve the needs of all passengers, and give certainty to airlines, communities and businesses. It would deliver the connectivity the UK needs with lower environmental impacts, whilst spreading the economic benefits.
“A two-runway Gatwick, as part of a constellation of three major airports surrounding London, will also provide flexibility in an industry where the only constant is change.”
The second runway is expected to cost between GBP5-9 billion however building work is not permitted to start before 2019 because of a 40 year agreement with the local community. Work would therefore not be completed before 2025.
Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “The county council has voted to support expansion of Gatwick, in principle, because of the huge potential economic benefits for West Sussex. However, we want to work with Gatwick, residents and partners to ensure that any development will take into account the environmental concerns that people rightly have, and include all of the essential infrastructure that a development of this scale would require. We are pleased that Gatwick has agreed to work with us on these issues.”
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