Gatwick Airport second runway legal challenge has date set

PA MediaThe plan for the runway was permitted in SeptemberA authorized problem over plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport is ready to be heard in January, a Excessive Courtroom choose has stated.The privately-funded scheme, costing £2.2bn, will see the airport transfer its emergency runway 12m (39ft) north, enabling it for use for about 100,000 extra flights a yr.Marketing campaign group Communities towards Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) and chairman of the Gatwick Space Conservation Marketing campaign Peter Barclay are taking authorized motion towards the Division for Transport (DfT) over Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander’s choice to approve plans.The DfT and the airport’s proprietor, Gatwick Airport Restricted (GAL), are opposing the problem, which can start on 20 January 2026.At a listening to on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mould stated the case could be heard over 4 days.Estelle Dehon KC, for Cagne, had requested the court docket for the problem to be heard in February or March as a result of barristers for the group being unavailable in January, leading to an “inequality of arms”.However Mr Justice Mould stated that whereas he was “not oblivious” to the group’s considerations, the date wouldn’t change.He stated: “It’s within the highest diploma fascinating that it ought to be handled as expeditiously as doable.”I’m afraid I’ve to be fairly hard-nosed about this, and I admire this may create inconvenience to fairly a variety of individuals within the room.”Saying its authorized problem in November, Cagne stated there was a failure to correctly consider the importance of inbound flight emissions and to evaluate the impact of non-carbon dioxide emissions on the local weather.In written submissions for Tuesday’s listening to, Nigel Pleming KC, for the DfT, stated a few of Mr Barclay’s and Cagne’s arguments had been “irrefutably unarguable”.James Strachan KC, for GAL, stated in written submissions: “GAL first utilized for improvement consent in July 2023, nearly two-and-a-half years in the past, and GAL is eager to start the event which has been granted consent.”It’s clearly opposite to the general public curiosity that (unmeritorious) litigation corresponding to these claims ought to unnecessarily delay nationwide infrastructure initiatives such because the proposed improvement.”Extra reporting by PA Media.