Campaigners against Gatwick Airport’s proposed new passenger runway have been unsuccessful in a High Court challenge to the government’s approval of the project.

Today, 23 June, Justice Mould dismissed judicial review

In February 2025, transport secretary Heidi Alexander

, subject to further information from Gatwick Airport. The airport subsequently submitted updated details within the designated timeframe. Then satisfied,

The claims against the approval were brought forward by campaigner Peter Barclay, chairman of Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, and the group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne).

Gatwick’s proposal would see the reconstruction of the Northern Runway, which is currently used as a standby and for maintenance, to be used by smaller departing aircraft. This would include moving the centre line of the runway further north by 12m, bringing it within global safety standards to operate dual runway departures.

The expansion will enable it to build towards the target of 80M annual passengers.

Further works to be conducted as part of the proposals will include amendments to taxiways, terminal extensions and ancillary facilities and the construction of highways, as well as mitigation and other associated works.

The claimants argued the DfT had failed to properly assess the climate impacts of the expansion, contending that environmental effects, in particular towards the UK’s climate targets, were not lawfully considered.

Lawyers for the DfT and for Gatwick Airport Limited defended the decision with the airport’s legal team, telling the court the challenge was “unarguable”.

Last year, Cagne

Judge Mould said Alexander had accepted the development would have “moderately adverse and significant effects”, but concluded these would not “materially impact” the UK Government’s ability to meet its net zero targets.

He quoted Alexander as acknowledging the scheme would not “fully contribute to the UK’s trajectory towards net zero” but said she had placed “moderate adverse weight against the order”.

Cagne has said it would not accept the ruling as final and that its legal team was considering an appeal.

In a statement, the group reiterated concerns raised during the case, specifically the potential increases in noise and air pollution and what it described as a lack of funding by the airport for essential local infrastructure, such as sewerage treatment.

The group also accused the government of prioritising economic benefits over local and environmental costs.

Gatwick has argued the Northern Runway project is needed to support growth and has described the environmental impact as manageable, within planning and regulatory frameworks.

The airport’s owners have also previously said expansion would bring jobs and wider economic benefits to the region.

In a statement, Cagne said: “Cagne will not accept this ruling as the final word. Our legal team will now consider an appeal, and we will continue to stand up for the communities who will be forced to live with the consequences of this expansion.

“Cagne are obviously disappointed by today’s ruling.

“Communities across Sussex, Surrey and Kent helped fund this legal action because they have grave and legitimate concerns about the proposed expansion: the lack of airport funding for essential infrastructure, the absence of proper investment in sewerage treatment, the increased noise burden on local residents, worsening air quality, and the significant rise in CO2 and other harmful emissions.”

The statement added: “Today’s ruling provides no reassurance for those concerns.

“It does not change the fact that local communities are being asked to carry the consequences while the airport fails to provide the funding needed to protect the people and places affected.”

A Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: “We are pleased with today’s High Court ruling to uphold the government’s careful decision to grant planning approval for our Northern Runway project.

“Our exciting plans will deliver significant business, tourism and trade benefits for the UK, including 14,000 new jobs and a £1bn boost to the economy every year.”

They added: “This is a victory for common sense. We now look forward to turning our plans into reality and will announce further details in due course.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “We welcome the High Court’s decision to uphold our approval of expansion at Gatwick Airport.

“This is a project that balances our environmental and climate commitments with huge economic benefits – bringing around 14,000 new jobs to local people, and delivering £1bn a year to benefit all four corners of the UK.”

The news comes as Gatwick Airport Ltd has also filed a claim against transport secretary Heidi Alexander.

The challenge surrounds the Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2026, which reduce the percentage of slots at UK airports which airlines are required to use in order to maintain their allocation of slots from 80% to 70%.

The government has said the regulations are necessary in the light of the disruption to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, “which gives rise to risks to the viability of airline schedules”.