Plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex are set to proceed following a ruling by the Court of Appeal that dismissed a legal challenge against the expansion. The judicial decision, handed down on August 4, rejected an appeal by local campaigners who argued that the government had not adequately assessed the project's environmental impact, particularly its effects on carbon emissions and climate change targets.

The £2.2 billion development, approved last September by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, will involve repositioning the airport’s emergency northern runway by approximately 12 meters. This adjustment will enable the runway to be used regularly alongside the main runway, increasing annual flight capacity by around 100,000 and accommodating up to 13 million additional passengers. Gatwick, currently the UK’s second busiest airport, aims to have the second runway operational by 2030.

Campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne), led by Peter Barclay, brought the legal action against the Department for Transport. The group contended that the government’s approval did not fully consider whether the expansion would compromise the UK’s ability to meet its carbon reduction commitments. However, in June, Mr Justice Mould of the High Court ruled that the Transport Secretary’s decision was neither illogical nor contradictory in concluding that the development would not have a material impact on the government's climate targets. He further dismissed challenges related to the necessity of Gatwick’s expansion, given its proximity to Heathrow Airport.

The Court of Appeal judges, Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove, upheld this view, describing the legal grounds for appeal as “unarguable” and stating that none of the arguments brought forward had a realistic prospect of success. They also emphasized that the earlier High Court ruling was “detailed and thorough,” providing no compelling reasons for the Court of Appeal to reconsider the matter.

Heidi Alexander described the ruling as a “major milestone” for Gatwick and local communities, highlighting that the expansion would unlock investment, create thousands of jobs, and significantly enhance connectivity. She added that the government remains committed to supporting economic growth while advancing climate goals, noting ongoing investment in green aviation fuels aimed at reducing emissions.

Gatwick’s chief executive, Pierre-Hugues Schmit, welcomed the decision, expressing relief after an eight-year process of planning and legal scrutiny. The airport plans include upgrading taxiways, extending terminals, and adding gates to accommodate increased flight operations. The expanded facilities are expected to alleviate congestion at Heathrow and support economic benefits valued at around £1 billion, with an estimated creation of 14,000 new jobs.

Opponents of the project, including Cagne and other local campaigners, expressed disappointment with the ruling. They warned that airport expansions risk perpetuating environmental harms such as increased noise, air pollution, and carbon emissions, while potentially exacerbating traffic congestion and negatively impacting local communities.

Separately, similar legal hurdles have been cleared for the expansion of Luton Airport, which plans to increase annual passenger capacity from 19 million to 32 million by the mid-2040s. The government and courts continue to grapple with balancing aviation growth ambitions against environmental and community concerns amid the country’s broader economic and climate commitments.