LONDON: Britain’s approval of Gatwick Airport’s expansion was lawful, London’s High Court ruled on Tuesday, allowing the country’s second busiest hub to proceed with a plan to add millions of new passengers by 2030.
The opening of a second runway at Gatwick, situated 30 miles (48 km) south of London, was given the go-ahead by the government last year but faced a legal challenge brought by two environmental groups over noise and pollution.
Both groups, the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign and Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions, said they would look to appeal Tuesday’s ruling.
GOVERNMENT HAS BACKED NEW RUNWAY
The government has said the increasing use of sustainable aviation fuel means airport expansion is not incompatible with its net-zero targets, and has backed a new runway at Heathrow, the country’s biggest hub, and at Gatwick, where a second back-up runway will be converted into full use.
