London Gatwick has launched a four-week consultation today regarding potential adjustments to its Northern Runway plans. This marks the Second Notification of a Proposed Change in the airport’s growth strategy. The proposed alterations encompass:
1.
Adjustments to the runway alignment
:– Relocation of the runway threshold to the west to reduce noise impact on communities to the north.
– Optimization of the runway length to meet operational requirements while minimizing land take.
2.
Revised flight path design
:– Modification of the flight paths to reduce overflights over densely populated areas.
3.
Additional noise mitigation measures
:– Implementation of enhanced noise insulation for affected properties.
4.
Further ecological enhancements
:– Additional measures to protect and enhance local wildlife.
Comprehensive details regarding this proposed modification, including instructions on participating in the consultation, are accessible on London Gatwick’s Northern Runway webpage. The consultation period will conclude at 11.59 on June 11, 2024, providing an avenue for the public, landowners, and other stakeholders to express their opinions on the airport’s proposed change to its DCO. These viewpoints will be carefully considered before the airport submits a request to amend its DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate.
London Gatwick’s application to operationalize its Northern Runway, alongside its Main Runway, underwent examination by the Planning Inspectorate starting from August 3, 2023. The Examination process commenced at the end of February 2024 and is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. The airport has fine-tuned its proposal and conducted consultations in December 2023 on three specific changes aimed at further reducing environmental impact while maintaining design flexibility.
The implementation of London Gatwick’s Northern Runway plan is anticipated to generate approximately 14,000 new jobs and inject £1 billion into the regional economy annually. Tim Norwood, Chief Planning Officer, London Gatwick, said : “Feedback from the public and stakeholders helped shape and influence our Northern Runway plans following previous consultations. We have just launched a new public consultation on a further proposal to support our DCO application and we look forward to receiving and taking onboard further feedback about our plans.
