Project Description

Key Components of the Project

5.1.1 As set out in Section 1, the Project proposes alterations to the existing northern runway which, along with lifting the current restrictions on its use, would enable dual runway operations. Together with the alterations to the northern runway, the Project would include the development of a range of infrastructure and facilities to allow increased airport passenger and aircraft operations and to allow Gatwick Airport to make best use of its existing runways.

5.1.2 Key components of the Project include:

amendments to the existing northern runway including repositioning its centreline 12 metres further north to enable dual runway operations;
reconfiguration of taxiways;
pier and stand alterations (including a proposed new pier);
reconfiguration of other airfield facilities;
extensions to the existing airport terminals (north and south);
provision of additional hotel and office space;
provision of reconfigured car parking, including new car parks;
surface access (including highway) improvements;
reconfiguration of existing utilities, including surface water, foul drainage and power; and
landscape/ecological planting and environmental mitigation.
1. The figures below show the key elements of the Project. The land within the Project site boundary comprises 820 hectares, of which 747 hectares lie within the ownership of GAL.

Zoom in

Select figures:

Airfield/Airport Works Sheet 1

▼

◂ Legend

5.1.5 Once operational, the Project would result in all aircraft arrivals using the existing main runway and shared departures between the existing main runway and the altered northern runway. The existing taxiways would be amended and realigned to accommodate the altered northern runway and to allow safe manoeuvring of aircraft associated with both runways.

5.1.6 As a consequence of the Project, passenger throughput is anticipated to increase to approximately 75.6 million passengers per annum by 2038. This represents an increase in capacity of approximately 13.2 million passengers per annum compared to the compared to the forecast throughput of 62.4 million passengers per annum in the absence of the Project.

5.1.7 The Project would facilitate making better use of the existing runway to increase airfield capacity so that passengers can access the airport efficiently, with good levels of customer service, and would provide land for environmental effects to be mitigated.

5.1.8 A number of existing facilities would require reconfiguration, relocation or additional facilities to be provided. This would include the following:

central airfield maintenance and recycling facilities;
cargo facilities;
fire training ground and satellite airport fire service provision;
hangars;
provision of perimeter boundary treatments to mitigate noise (eg noise walls and bunding); and
internal access routes and forecourts.
1. Extensions to the existing North and South Terminals would be required to accommodate passenger growth. In addition, internal changes are proposed within the terminals such as reconfiguration works to facilities such as check in zones, baggage systems and security. The forecourts and approaches to both terminals would be enhanced. New hotels would be constructed at the North and South Terminals. Up to three new office blocks would also be provided to serve internal airport uses. New car parking would be required on site in order to meet additional parking demand generated by the proposed increase in passengers and to replace existing parking spaces that would be lost as a result of the Project.
2. In order to accommodate the proposed increase in passenger numbers, highway improvements are required at the locations where the increase in road traffic volumes is likely to be the greatest, including the South Terminal and North Terminal roundabouts and the Longbridge roundabout. The improvements include grade-separated junctions in each case. Options to increase the capacity of the Inter-Terminal Transit System between terminals are also being investigated.
3. Table 2 provides a summary of the key aspects of the Project that form the basis for the assessment of effects.

Table 2: Summary of Key Aspects of the Project

Element of the Project	Key Parameter for Assessment
Changes to Enable Dual Runway Operations
Development consent application area	820 hectares
Works within existing GAL land ownership	747 hectares
Permanent land take (third party)	68 hectares
Temporary land take (third party)	6 hectares
Passenger throughput
Future airport throughput (without Project 2038)	62.4 mppa
Project additional throughput (2038)	13.2 mppa
Proposed new airport throughput (with Project 2038)	75.6 mppa
Air traffic movements
Approximate future commercial air traffic movements (2038 without Project)	318,000
Approximate future non-commercial air traffic movements (2038 without Project)	2,000
Approximate future total aircraft movements (2038 without Project)	321,000
Approximate additional commercial air traffic movements (2038 with Project)	64,000
Approximate future commercial air traffic movements (2038 with Project)	382,000
Approximate future non-commercial air traffic movements (2038 with Project)	3,000
Approximate future total aircraft movements (2038 with Project)	385,000
Cargo throughput
Future cargo throughput (2038 without Project)	254,000 tonnes
Project additional cargo (2038)	69,000 tonnes
Proposed cargo (with Project, 2038)	323,000 tonnes
Alterations to the Existing Northern Runway
Centreline repositioning	12 meters to the north
Phasing
Commencement of main construction phase	2024
Year of opening for northern runway	2029
Completion of construction works	2038

Flood Risk and Water Management

5.1.12 To accommodate the alterations to the northern runway, to allow for the areas of new development and to meet current planning requirements (including an allowance for climate change), modifications to floodplains of the River Mole and Gatwick Stream plus upgrades to the existing surface water drainage strategy are proposed. This would ensure that no adverse impact on flood risk is likely off site. Measures are anticipated to include the provision of additional floodplain capacity (called floodplain compensation areas), by lowering existing ground levels; works to realign existing surface water drainage infrastructure; creation of additional runoff treatment and flood compensation areas to complement the existing capacity.

5.1.13 Changes to the foul drainage system to improve capacity and resilience are proposed in order to provide for the new and improved facilities, including wastewater from the extended terminals, hotels and new pier. New pumping stations and pipeline connections to Crawley Sewage Treatment Works are proposed to accommodate flows from the extended North Terminal and the new pier.

Climate Change

5.1.14 In addition to GAL’s existing net zero carbon commitments, as set out within their Decade of Change document, GAL is currently developing a detailed Carbon and Climate Change Action Plan, to enable the airport to continue to reduce carbon emissions and to deliver sustainable development. The following factors will be considered further:

the scale of aircraft emissions will be reviewed to take into account the likely evolution and use of sustainable aviation fuels, and to reflect expected gradual transition to electric / hybrid aircraft in use on some domestic and short haul routes;
more developed data on the design of buildings and infrastructure, and a more informed estimate of the material requirements and waste arisings from the construction of the Project;
improved information from the strategic transport modelling to inform the assessments of surface access emissions;
confirmation of the mitigation measures to be implemented and their effect on reducing the emissions arising from the Project including benefits of measures in the Carbon and Climate Change Action Plan currently under preparation; and
any changes to UK carbon budgets resulting from the revision to the Climate Change Act.
1. The next steps will include close working with the Project design teams to confirm the adoption of mitigation measures through design of the airport facilities and highways infrastructure, optimisation of material sourcing and recycling of cut/fill materials, management of construction stage emissions, and the adoption of the energy strategy to reduce emissions arising from airport operations. The opportunities to mitigate impacts of the Project through both construction and operation will be collated into the draft Carbon and Climate Change Action Plan, to be published as part of the application for development consent.

Construction

5.2.1 The timing of the Project would be dependent on securing development consent and the discharge of the associated requirements. The indicative construction programme is based on construction commencing in 2024. The programme for the main airfield construction works would be of approximately five years duration enabling the altered northern runway and taxiways to be complete and fully operational in combination with the main runway in 2029. The indicative phasing is outlined in Table 3.

Table 3: Indicative Phasing

Anticipated Phasing	Component of the Project
2023	Pre-construction activities (including surveys for any unexploded ordnance and any necessary pre-construction surveys)
2024	Early works, including establishment of compounds, fencing, early clearance and diversion works and re-provision of essential replacement services
2024-2029	Reconfiguration of existing maintenance airfield facilities (Phase 1) Alterations to the existing northern runway Airfield works to support use of the realigned northern runway
2024-2030	Extensions to North and South Terminals
2024-2032	Hotel and commercial facilities
2024-2035	Car parking
2024-2038	Flood compensation areas
2029-2032	Surface access improvements including: South Terminal roundabout improvements (2029-2030) North Terminal roundabout improvements (2029-2032) Works to Longbridge roundabout (2030-2032)
2029-2034	Ongoing reconfiguration of existing maintenance airfield facilities (to final state) Further improvements to airfield facilities
2030-2034	Pier 7
2035	Reinstatement of final land use at temporary construction compound locations

5.2.2 Construction would be undertaken in accordance with a Code of Construction Practice. The Code of Construction Practice will set out the key management measures that contractors would be required to adopt and implement. These measures will be developed based on those identified during the EIA process. They include strategies and control measures for managing the potential environmental effects of construction and limiting disturbance from construction activities as far as reasonably practicable. An outline Code of Construction Practice is provided as part of the PEIR.

Control of Accidents and Disasters

5.2.3 The EIA Regulations require consideration of the effects on the environment resulting from the vulnerability of the Project to risks from major accidents and/or disasters, where these are relevant to the project concerned. Work has been undertaken to consider the design of the Project in relation to the potential for accidents and disasters to occur.

5.2.4 The Project would not introduce hazards during the construction phase which could not be effectively managed through the Code of Construction Practice and/or existing plans and procedures currently in place at the airport.

←Existing Site and Operations

Approach to Environmental Assessment →