London Gatwick Airport's plan to bring a second runway into routine use moved closer to reality on Tuesday, after the High Court in London dismissed a legal challenge brought by local campaigners. The opponents said they had not given up and were weighing whether to appeal.
What was decided, and how
The case was a judicial review of the UK government's decision to grant planning permission for the airport's Northern Runway Project. According to reports of the hearing, Mr Justice Tim Mould dismissed two claims seeking to overturn the approval, finding the government's reasons were "rational and supported by proper, adequate and intelligible reasons," per ITV News.
Under UK planning law, a project of this scale is approved through a Development Consent Order issued by the relevant secretary of state. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander granted the order for the Gatwick scheme in 2025, having earlier said she was "minded to approve" it, according to New Civil Engineer. Campaigners have stressed that the Planning Inspectorate, which examined the application, had recommended refusal.
The challenge, and the appeal route
The legal claims were brought by Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) and by Peter Barclay, chair of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC). The campaigners argued that the consent failed to assess greenhouse gas emissions properly — including from inbound flights and non-CO2 effects — and relied too heavily on the government's Jet Zero Strategy, New Civil Engineer reported. The judge rejected those arguments.
The dismissal does not necessarily end the legal process. The campaigners said they had a short window — reported as seven days — to seek permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal, according to the Sussex Express.
"CAGNE will not accept this ruling as the final word," the group said in a statement. "Our legal team will now consider an appeal, and we will continue to stand up for the communities who will be forced to live with the consequences of this expansion." CAGNE chair Sally Pavey added that the Transport Secretary "seems to have taken a rose-tinted view of this planning application whilst the planning inspectorate recommended refusal."
Airport and government welcome ruling
The airport and ministers welcomed the judgment. A London Gatwick spokesperson said the airport was "pleased" the court had upheld "the Government's careful decision to grant planning approval for our Northern Runway Project," adding the plans would deliver "significant business, tourism and trade benefits for the UK, including 14,000 new jobs and a £1bn boost to the economy every year."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said it welcomed the decision to uphold the approval, describing it as "a project that balances our environmental and climate commitments with huge economic benefits."
The Northern Runway Project would convert Gatwick's existing standby northern runway for routine departures, increasing capacity. Supporters frame it as a relatively low-cost way to expand a major UK hub; opponents point to additional noise, road and rail pressures, and climate concerns for surrounding communities in Sussex and Surrey. The outcome of any appeal will determine whether those questions return to court.
