Gatwick has said that it “stands ready to proceed” with expansion of the airport despite yesterday’s decision by the government to back a third runway at Heathrow.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling yesterday announced that the government backed a third runway at Heathrow instead of building a second runway at Gatwick. Although the final decision is not due to be approved by parliament until the winter of 2017/18.
Gatwick’s CEO Stewart Wingate said: “We are disappointed as we do not believe this is the right answer for Britain. Gatwick has put forward a credible financeable and deliverable plan for expansion.
“It is a plan that can guarantee growth and guarantee certainty for Britain. We look forward to studying the full reasons behind the government decision in detail.
“The challenges facing Heathrow have not changed. Our message today is that Gatwick stands ready to proceed when the time comes.”
During his statement to the House of Commons yesterday, Grayling said: “Gatwick, despite not being selected today, remains a key part of our national transport picture and will continue to do so in future.”
Despite the government decision, Heathrow still faces considerable obstacles including strong opposition from leading political figures such as foreign secretary Boris Johnson, London mayor Sadiq Khan and MP Zac Goldsmith, who yesterday resigned over the decision to force a by-election.
Several local councils, who oppose Heathrow expansion, along with environmental group Greenpeace UK are now examining the government’s statement to come up with a legal strategy to try to stop the third runway.
Heathrow was given permission for a third runway by the Labour government in 2009. But the coalition government cancelled this decision in 2010.
Grayling today told the BBC that Heathrow’s third runway could involve constructing a “ramp” over the M25 for aircraft to take off from, because this would be “cheaper and quicker” than building a new tunnel for the motorway.
The decision to expand Heathrow has been widely backed by those in the business travel industry.
Graham Ramsey, CEO of the ATPI Group, said: “ We welcome airport expansion at Heathrow and believes that investment in an additional runway is essential.
“We share the frustration of the business travel sector and any international business in the delays that are still not ironed out. We strongly support the efforts of organisations such as the CBI and the GTMC in pushing for faster action.”