Expansion at Gatwick Airport has moved a step closer after the government gave the plan its tentative backing. On the surface Gatwick’s plans look relatively straightforward. In contrast to Heathrow, which wants to bulldoze houses and reroute the M25, Gatwick is proposing to shift an already existing runway just 12 metres north, and bring it into regular use.
Gatwick officially opened as an airport in 1958. It had one runway and an additional taxi-way, which was expanded so it could be used as a backup in case the main runway was out of action. It was never supposed to be for daily use.
In fact, in 1979 Gatwick’s owners signed a legally binding agreement with the local council not to build another operational runway for at least 40 years. Now, though, Gatwick is keen to increase flights in and out, especially for short-haul destinations, by putting the backup runway into regular use.
The centre line of a runway that’s in full operation must be at least 210 metres from the centre line of any other runway. The backup runway needs to shift 12 metres northwards to meet that safety rule.
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