Gatwick's second runway clears its final legal challenge

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the challenge to Gatwick Airport's second runway, which on the source's account clears the last legal hurdle for the £2.2bn privately financed scheme. The core of the work is shifting the existing northern runway by 12 metres so both runways can operate in parallel — up to 100,000 additional flights a year are envisaged from 2030, around 3,200 construction workers will be on site at peak, and the government puts the number of jobs supported at 14,000. The source does not say whether an application to appeal to the Supreme Court remains open, and it does not name the claimants. Announced on 04.08.2026. The date 31.12.2030 is a placeholder: the source only gives 2030 as the year from which the northern runway is to be in full use.