Views sought on options for new runway at Gatwick
Gatwick Airport said work on a
new runway could begin before the end of the next parliament in 2020
Three options for building a second
runway at Gatwick Airport have gone out to public consultation.
The airport has submitted the plans to the government's review into the need
for extra capacity in the south east.
All involve building a new runway to the south - parallel with the existing
one - although a legal agreement prevents construction until after 2019.
Airport chief executive Stewart Wingate said he hoped many views would be
expressed over the next six weeks.
"The views of the local community are an essential element in shaping
Gatwick's second runway options," he said.
Option one is for a 585m (0.3 mile) runway south of the existing runway,
while options two and three are for a 1,045m (0.6 mile) runway.
Options one and two would involve one runway being used for landings and the
other used for take-offs.
The plans for the West Sussex
airport include a new transport interchange
Option three - which is the preferred choice of Gatwick Airport - would see
both runways used for landings and take-offs.
A new terminal would also be built between the runways.
Architect Sir Terry Farrell is working with Gatwick on the proposal for the
new £7bn runway.
The airport said it could start construction before the end of the next
parliament in 2020, with the first flights in 2025
The Airports Commission will make recommendations to the government in 2015
on how to meet any need for additional airport capacity in the longer
term.
