Hundreds more aircraft will be using the flightpath over Crowborough after the Govt approved plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport.
The decision has been welcomed by some as boost for the economy, but by others as “catastrophic” for the environment and the local community.
The northern runway, which will be put into permanent use, already exists parallel to Gatwick’s main one, but cannot be used at the same time, as it is too close. It is currently limited to being a taxiway and is only used for take-offs and landings if the main one has to shut.
The £2.2bn expansion project will see it move 12 metres north so both can operate simultaneously, facilitating 100,000 extra flights a year, 14,000 jobs, and £1bn a year for the economy, according to Gatwick Airport. It would also mean the airport could process 75 million passengers a year by the late 2030s.
Gatwick handles an average of approximately 726 aircraft movements (landings and take-offs) per day and bringing the second runway into use will allow for nearly 190 additional flights per day once fully operational. Gatwick is already the second busiest airport in the UK, and the busiest single runway airport in Europe.
No public money is being used for the expansion plan, which airport bosses say could see the new runway operational by 2029. The expansion was initially rejected by the Planning Inspectorate over concerns about its provisions for noise prevention and public transport connections.
The government says it is now satisfied the airport has addressed concerns and made additions to its plan. Nearby residents affected by noise will also be able to charge the airport for the cost of triple-glazed windows. And people who live directly under the flight path who choose to sell their homes could have their stamp duty and estate agent fees paid for up to 1% of the purchase price.
However, although Crowborough is directly under the flightpath for arrivals into Gatwick, it is unlikely to be eligible for any compensation.
The Campaign Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions (CAGNE) says it still has concerns about noise, housing provision, and waste water treatment. It says the second runway will add an extra million tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. The group says it will lodge a judicial review.
Friends of the Earth is among the many environmental groups angry at the decision. It says the economic benefits have been “massively overstated”. A spokesperson said: “With emissions from aviation rising as climate extremes increasingly batter the planet with more intense floods, droughts and wildfires, it’s a struggle to see how the government can conclude expansion at Gatwick is a wise move.”