Gatwick: Why is it so hard to move a runway 12 metres?

Gatwick Airport's expansion plan has taken a step forward after receiving initial support from the government. The plan aims to increase the airport's capacity to meet growing aviation demands. This move is of significant importance to the development of the UK aviation industry.

On the surface, the expansion plan for Gatwick Airport appears relatively simple. Compared to Heathrow Airport's plans, which involve demolishing homes and rerouting the M25 motorway, Gatwick's plan involves moving an existing runway 12 meters north and putting it into daily use. The advantage of this approach is that it reduces the impact on the surrounding environment and lowers the difficulty of implementation.

However, this plan may not be realized in the coming years, or it may not be realized at all. Gatwick Airport officially opened in 1958 with only one runway and an additional taxiway, which was later expanded to serve as a backup when the main runway was unavailable. But it was never designed for daily use. In fact, in 1979, Gatwick Airport's owner signed a legally binding agreement with the local council promising not to build another operational runway for at least 40 years.

Now, Gatwick Airport is keen to increase the number of incoming and outgoing flights, especially short-haul flights, by putting the backup runway into daily use to achieve this goal. In the summer of 2023, the airport submitted a planning application that included additional buildings, overpasses to local roads, and expanded rail connections. However, the centerline of a fully operational runway must be at least 210 meters away from the centerline of any other runway. Therefore, the backup runway needs to be moved 12 meters north to meet this safety regulation.

The government supports this privately funded £2.2 billion plan in principle, but that does not mean it is ready for takeoff. Some local residents strongly oppose the expansion of Gatwick Airport, objecting to the increase in traffic, noise, and pollution. Climate activists oppose any airport expansion, pointing out that additional flights will make it more difficult for the UK to fulfill its obligations to reduce climate-changing emissions. In January, MPs called on the government to postpone a decision on expanding Gatwick Airport until adequate monitoring of current noise levels at the site has been conducted. Gatwick Airport must submit more information by April 24 to support its planning application and propose measures such as noise mitigation and getting a portion of passengers to travel to the airport by public transport. A new consultation on the plans will then take place, after which the government will make a final decision on October 27.

Even if Gatwick Airport gets approval, it may still face further obstacles. Paul Maile, Head of Planning and Infrastructure Consenting at Eversheds Sutherland, told the BBC: "The final decision could still be subject to legal challenge, which would lead to further delays. It could still be several years before work can start at the earliest."

Gatwick Airport has previously stated that it believes the new runway could be ready before the end of this decade. But there is still a significant possibility that it may not happen at all. By 2030, another general election will be held, and a different government may overturn any previous decisions. Planning permits and regulations may change, and climate targets may be raised—all of which would put the project at risk. Professor Tony Travers of the London School of Economics said that it will also depend on the will of the public. Politicians are "vulnerable to public pressure" and therefore sometimes choose to slow down or cancel infrastructure projects like this.

Airport expansion has broader benefits for regional and national economies, as well as the traveling public, but these advantages usually don't prompt people to make signs and write to their MPs. On the other hand, living under a flight path does. Richard Threlfall, Global Head of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare at KPMG International, said that other countries without such strong democratic institutions as the UK can "just get on with it" when they want to build infrastructure. In the UK, roads, rail infrastructure, housing, and other projects can be slowed down or completely blocked if enough people object. But the current government has staked its reputation on overcoming opposition to projects it believes will promote growth, indicating that it wants to see airport expansion, despite the objections.