Gatwick airport has been cleared to begin work on a second runway after the Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge by local campaign groups, ending the final attempt to block the £2.2bn project.
The appeal court ruled on Tuesday against campaigners who had sought to overturn a High Court decision in June that the expansion could lawfully go ahead. Britain's second-busiest airport said the ruling meant it could now move towards developing the new runway, which is expected to allow around 100,000 additional flights a year.
The project is one of the largest airport infrastructure schemes in the UK. Supporters say it will create about 14,000 jobs and deliver an estimated £1bn boost to the regional economy. The extra capacity would strengthen Gatwick's position as a major hub for leisure and business travel and ease pressure on London's airport network.
Campaign groups opposed to the plan have argued for years that the expansion would cause unacceptable harm to local communities and the environment. They brought legal proceedings in the hope of halting the scheme, and Tuesday's decision was widely described as the last-ditch obstacle to the project. The ruling follows the High Court's earlier finding in favour of the airport and appears to exhaust the campaigners' legal options.
The airport argues that the new runway is essential to meet growing demand for air travel in the south of England and to maintain the country's global connectivity. It has also pointed to the economic benefits, including employment during construction and long-term jobs once the runway is operational.
The judgement is likely to be seen as a significant moment for UK aviation policy. Other airports are watching closely as they consider their own expansion plans, while environmental groups remain concerned about the industry's contribution to carbon emissions. The ruling does not settle the broader debate about how to reconcile airport growth with the UK's climate targets.
For residents living near Gatwick, the ruling brings an end to years of uncertainty about the runway's future, although opposition is unlikely to disappear overnight. The campaigners who brought the case have not yet announced whether they will attempt any further action.
The second runway has been discussed for decades, and the ruling is the latest step in a long planning process. Construction is expected to begin in due course, with the airport focused on the next stages of development. Once operational, the runway would significantly increase the number of flights using Gatwick, changing travel patterns for millions of passengers in the region.
A spokesperson for the airport welcomed the court's decision, describing it as a major milestone for the project. The airport has said it will now focus on detailed planning and preparatory work before the main construction phase begins. Further details on timetables and construction schedules are expected in the coming months.
