Reeves: Gatwick second runway shows Government 'backing builders, not blockers'

GATWICK Airport's £2.2billion second runway plan could create thousands of jobs and help “kickstart the economy”, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said.

- By DAVID HUGHES AND SOPHIE WINGATE, PA

The Government gave permission for the privately financed project to take off on Sunday.

It means the airport will move its emergency runway 12 metres north, bringing it into regular use for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. This will enable Gatwick to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year.

The decision has been met with a furious response by environmental groups, and campaigners against expansion immediately signalled plans to seek a judicial review.

Ms Reeves said: “This government promised to kickstart the economy and we are. A second runway at Gatwick means thousands of more jobs and billions more in investment for the economy.”

The Chancellor views the plan as a signal of the Government's commitment to back “the builders, not the blockers”.

The Gatwick scheme has been given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. She supported it as a “no-brainer” for economic growth, a government source said, suggesting flights could take off from the new full runway before 2029. The Cabinet minister is satisfied with adjustments made, covering issues such as noise mitigation and the proportion of passengers who would travel to and from the airport by public transport.