Transport secretary Heidi Alexander gave the go-ahead in principle on Thursday (27 February) but has asked for more evidence about how the development will impact the local area.

In a statement to parliament, she said: "This statement confirms that today I have issued a ‘minded to approve’ letter for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008.

"I am issuing a minded to approve decision that provides some additional time to seek views from all parties on the provisions, prior to a final decision."

The deadline for the final decision was extended to 27 October 2025.

Under the proposals, Gatwick’s standby runway will be widened so that it effectively moves 12 metres north, giving it the required clearance from the main runway.

It will be used for short-haul flights taking off, while the main runway will cater for landing aircraft and long-haul departures. 

While the plans, which include extending Gatwick’s North and South terminals, will not expand the airport’s footprint, they will mean a huge increase in passenger numbers, noise and air pollution, which has led to the transport secretary’s call for more evidence.

Gatwick currently handles around 43 million passengers a year, but two runways will permit it to cater for an estimated 80 million, close to Heathrow’s current 83.9 million.

Alexander earlier said she was not "a flight-shaming eco-warrior" and is likely to seek a compromise.

If so, the second runway could be operational by the end of the decade, although there may be legal challenges before construction can begin.  

The airport’s owners have indicated the £2.2 billion project is only viable if Gatwick is allowed to grow to its full potential.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “We welcome today’s announcement that the Secretary of State for Transport is minded to approve our Northern Runway plans and has outlined a clear pathway to full approval later in the year.  

“It is vital that any planning conditions attached to the final approval enable us to make a decision to invest £2.2billion in this project and realise the full benefits of bringing the Northern Runway into routine use.

 
He claimed Gatwick had outlined to government “how we plan to grow responsibly to meet increasing passenger demand, while minimising noise and environmental impacts”. 

However pressure group Cagne – Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions – said it had a “legal challenge ready and waiting to reiterate all the lack of detail and firmed-up facts submitted by shareholders to get a new runway at expense to taxpayer”.

One argument thought to have persuaded the government was the potential to increase inbound tourism.

Richard Toomer, executive director of the Tourism Alliance, the trade body for UK tourism, said 88% of international visitors to the UK arrived by air. 

“The key is to ensure that future growth is environmentally sensitive and sustainable,” he said.

Abta said it supported UK airport expansion "if delivered in line with environmental goals and coupled with plans to develop an aviation industry which is more sustainable".

"To do this, we need government support – both in policy and finance – to help the industry develop solutions, such as a domestic sustainable aviation fuel industry,” it concluded.