Gatwick approves second runway amid local fury and economic projections

Gatwick Airport won approval for a second runway after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander signed off on the privately financed, £2.2 billion expansion, a decision officials say will underpin economic growth and improve the region’s transport links. The plan, which had been rejected earlier this year by the Planning Inspectorate before changes were recommended, would push the airport’s capacity and is expected to bring a substantial boost in aviation activity over the coming decade.

Gatwick says the runway would deliver about 100,000 additional flights per year, a figure critics say would intensify a nearby community already living under longer flight paths and near-busy infrastructure. In 2024, Gatwick handled roughly 265,000 flights in total, a scale backstopped by the expectation that the new runway could unlock a higher level of throughput. First flights on the new runway are not anticipated before 2029, with the delivery of full benefits projected to stretch into the late 2030s.

Residents who live in Charlwood and other nearby villages reacted with heartbreak and anger, saying the decision would devastate their communities and force some homeowners to sell. Ryan Shirley, 56, said he might put his house on the market after years of living under flight paths, telling reporters the move felt “terrible” and that there had been little consideration for locals. Barbara Cole, 67, also warned that the project would bring unacceptable noise levels and environmental damage, arguing that another site or a new airport elsewhere would have been preferable. “Where will it end?” she asked, saying the village could be “ripped” apart.

Other residents expressed disbelief or described the news as bewildering and hopeless for the village’s future. Helen Hill, 70, said there was “not one single advantage” to the expansion and predicted that her son might relocate to escape the impact. Ami Nicholls, 32, a mother of two, called the decision a nightmare and suggested the community had been ignored in the process, warning that house prices could fall as a result. Jenny Rendall, 46, also cited the downsides of noise and pollution while acknowledging potential benefits such as more holiday destinations. Pauline Weston, 65, said the plan would spell the end of the village within 20 years and described the move as heartbreaking and bewildering.

Gatwick has framed the project as a catalyst for growth, arguing it would bring about £1 billion per year in economic benefits and support about 14,000 additional jobs. A Department for Transport spokesperson said the Transport Secretary had approved Gatwick’s application “to expand its operations, through routine use of its existing northern runway.” The agency emphasized the plan’s economic rationale and the role of private financing in delivering the upgrade.

The decision also comes as regional property markets show sensitivity to aviation expansion. New research from estate agency Yopa projects that property values in the so-called Gatwick Diamond—covering Crawley, Reigate and Banstead, Horsham, Mid Sussex, Mole Valley and Tandridge—could slide by as much as 3 percent even before construction begins. More pronounced declines are forecast for homes directly under new flight paths, with Mole Valley potentially losing about £16,205 on average before construction starts, and individual pockets near flight corridors facing double-digit percentage drops in value. In Mole Valley specifically, the analysis estimates a near £40,500 decline for properties most exposed to the new paths, with nearby Tandridge and Reigate and Banstead suffering similarly steep reductions. Other affected districts—Horsham, Mid Sussex and Crawley—could see average pre-construction losses in the £24,000 to £33,000 range.

Yet the analysis also notes a possible post-construction rebound. Once the runway is completed, house prices in surrounding areas could rise by an average of about 9.5 percent as the economy benefits from more jobs and improved transport links. The study underscores that the timing and magnitude of any rebound will depend on broader market conditions and how effectively the region capitalizes on the increased air capacity.

Gatwick’s development has drawn attention beyond its own borders. The government’s broader push to grow capacity in the Southeast was highlighted by Heathrow’s simultaneous bid for a third runway later in the year, signaling a regional race to add aviation capacity despite environmental concerns. Heathrow announced plans in August to expand further, while environmental groups and local residents around Sipson, Harlington and Harmondsworth warned of increased CO2 output and disruption. Campaigners and neighboring communities have argued that expansion could undermine climate goals and impose heavy costs on residents through compulsory purchases or long-term noise and pollution.

Environmental and community voices emphasized that the costs of expansion extend beyond immediate construction. Opponents have warned that noise, air quality degradation and pressures on local infrastructure could erode quality of life and threaten long-term sustainability for communities near both Gatwick and Heathrow. The debate over airport expansion thus remains a central feature of regional planning and climate policy as officials weigh economic benefits against potential environmental and social impacts.

As the region moves forward, residents have signaled a willingness to pursue avenues for challenge, including appeals and legal avenues, while others have signaled readiness to adapt to a changed landscape as jobs, investment and improved transport links begin to materialize in the years ahead. The coming months will reveal how the new runway project will be phased in, how compensation mechanisms will be applied, and what measures will be implemented to mitigate noise and air quality impacts for communities surrounding Gatwick.