The Gatwick Airport Northern Runway application has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) is seeking to bring its northern ‘standby’ runway, which is currently only used for emergency purposes or where the main runway is closed for maintenance, into routine operational use.

The Northern Runway Project works will mostly be contained within the existing boundary and include:

• repositioning of the Northern Runway (12 metres north)
• reconfiguration of taxiways
• expansion of the terminal buildings
• a new pier and amendments to aircraft stands
• new waste facilities
• a new hangar
• new fire training grounds
• new office space and hotel rooms
• an additional 18,500 car parking spaces
• road improvement works
• environmental measures

Further information on the DCO is provided on the Gatwick Airport website and details of the DCO process can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate website.

Visit the Gatwick Media Centre site for a timeline of events.

The Secretary of State for Transport granted consent for Gatwick Airport's Development Consent Order (DCO) to bring the Northern Runway into routine use. Find out more on the northern runway plans webpage on Gatwick Airport's website.

On 27 February 2025, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a delay in the final decision on the Development Consent Order for the Northern Runway Project.

Examination of the application ran for six months from 27 February to 27 August 2024. A decision due date was set for late February 2025.

Crawley Borough Council and the other nine local authorities surrounding Gatwick Airport have submitted their relevant representations regarding Gatwick Airport’s Northern Runway Project.

The Planning Inspectorate accepted GAL's application for examination.

GAL submitted its Northern Runway Development Consent Order proposals to the Planning Inspectorate.

Read our update on the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway project proposal.