The recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport of a second runway at Gatwick may yet prove (as with so many Government announcements) to be somewhat premature.
The Campaign against Gatwick Noise and Emissions (@CAGNE) have now filed a judicial review claim against the decision on the following grounds:
- Flawed approach to calculating the significance of greenhouse gas emissions and/or failure to provide adequate reasons.
- Error of law in the treatment of greenhouse gas emissions from international inbound flights.
- Error of law in the treatment of non-carbon dioxide emissions.
- Failure to take into account material risks in relation to the Jet Zero Strategy (JZS) and/or comply with the duty to make enquiries and/or irrational approach to the JZS.
- Error of law in relying extensively on the JZS, which is itself unlawful.
- Unlawful failure to weigh noise harms in the planning balance.
- Unlawful requirement concerning wastewater treatment.
Plans for the expansion were submitted in July 2023 and involve the repurposing of the current back-up runway at Gatwick Airport, allowing it to operate alongside the main runway. It is understood that the extra capacity will result in more than 100,000 extra flights per year by the late 2030s. Following an examination period, the plans were granted development consent in September 2025 – a decision which CAGNE says was flawed.
Sally Pavey, chair of CAGNE, said:
“The only guarantees Gatwick offered were significant increases in noise and more pressure on our sewage system, whilst increasing global warming – to allow a huge increase in seasonal leisure flights exporting sterling out of the UK purse.
“It is absolutely shameful that residents are forced to take legal action to hold a government to account. Months were spent examining the Gatwick submissions, yet a government can just ignore the outcome for refusal, granting unsustainable growth at any price to the local environment and the planet.
“To build a brighter future, you must look to what is sustainable, to what legacy we wish to leave future generations. One that increases global warming per Gatwick flight that costs less than a train fare to London, or one that presents a sustainable future for all.”
Find out more: https://cagne.org/
