London Gatwick can move ahead with its Northern Runway project after the Court of Appeal refused campaigners permission to continue challenging the government’s approval of the expansion. The ruling removes the last legal hurdle against the £2.2bn scheme, which would shift the airport’s standby runway 12 metres north so it can operate alongside the main runway and support about 100,000 additional flights a year.
The Department for Transport approved the development consent in September 2025, and the latest decision clears the way for Gatwick to enter the design and delivery phase after an eight-year planning and legal process. The airport expects further work before any dual-runway operations begin, including construction and operational approvals.
Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Gatwick’s chief executive, described the approval as lawful and proper and thanked supporters of the plan. The project is one of the most significant capacity expansions in the UK airport market and is central to Gatwick’s long-term growth plans.