A High Court judge has set a January date for a legal challenge against the proposed second runway at Gatwick Airport.
The £2.2bn, privately-funded project would involve moving the airport’s existing emergency runway 12m (39ft) north. This would enable an estimated 100,000 additional flights per year.
Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) and Peter Barclay, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, are pursuing legal action against the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander’s approval of the plans.
The DfT and Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL), the airport’s owner, are contesting the challenge, which is scheduled to commence on January 20, 2026.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Justice Mould determined that the case would span four days.
Estelle Dehon KC, representing CAGNE, requested the court to reschedule the hearing for February or March, citing the unavailability of the group’s barristers in January, which she argued would create an “inequality of arms.”
However, Mr. Justice Mould acknowledged the group’s concerns but maintained the original date.
He stated, “It is of utmost importance that this matter be addressed as swiftly as possible.”
“I must be quite firm on this, and I understand that this will cause inconvenience to a number of individuals present.”
In its November announcement of the legal challenge, CAGNE cited a failure to adequately assess the impact of inbound flight emissions and the effect of non-carbon dioxide emissions on the climate.
In written submissions for Tuesday’s hearing, Nigel Pleming KC, representing the DfT, argued that certain points raised by Mr. Barclay and CAGNE were “indisputably unarguable.”
James Strachan KC, representing GAL, stated in written submissions: “GAL initially applied for development consent in July 2023, nearly two and a half years ago, and GAL is eager to commence the development for which consent has been granted.”
“It is clearly against the public interest for litigation, such as these unmeritorious claims, to unnecessarily delay national infrastructure projects like the proposed development.”
Additional reporting by PA Media.
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