The UK government has given approval to London Gatwick Airport¡¯s plans to operate a second runway.

The Sussex airport had been given provisional clearance for the ?2.2 billion expansion project in February, subject to further consultation on issues such as aircraft noise and increasing the percentage of passengers using public transport to get to Gatwick.

UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander has now granted ¡°development consent¡± to the scheme, which will see Gatwick?convert its Northern Runway, currently only used for taxiing aircraft, into a fully operational runway.

¡°With capacity constraints holding back business, trade and tourism, this is a no-brainer for growth,¡± said a government spokesperson.

¡°This government has taken unprecedented steps to get this done, navigating a needlessly complex planning system, which our reforms will simplify in future. It is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election.¡±

Stewart Wingate,?UK managing director for Gatwick¡¯s owner VINCI Airports, welcomed the government¡¯s decision ¡°ahead of the expected deadline¡± of 27 October.

¡°This is another important gateway in the planning process for this ?2.2 billion investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick, and the UK and create thousands of jobs,¡± added Wingate, who was previously Gatwick¡¯s CEO before his promotion earlier this year.

¡°As we¡¯ve said previously, it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to realise the full benefits of the project and do not impose unnecessary constraints that make it uneconomic to invest in. We now need to carefully examine the details of the planning consent. Once we have done that, we will be able to comment further.¡±?

Gatwick is Europe's busiest single-runway airport with annual traffic of more than 40 million passengers per year. The conversion of its Northern Runway would allow it to serve up to 75 million annually by the late 2030s.

But the plan is likely to face legal hurdles, with local community and environment group CAGNE vowing to launch a judicial review against Gatwick¡¯s expansion.

¡°We know this government cares little for the environmental impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwick¡¯s neighbours, but not to demand that Gatwick pays for the infrastructure, the onsite wastewater treatment plant and noise impact is unlawful in our book,¡± said CAGNE in a statement.

Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, called the Gatwick decision ¡°good news for business travel and UK growth¡±. Although he added that the project needed to be ¡°delivered sustainably and without cost to the public purse¡±.

¡°There appears to be uncertainty around how commitments on transport access will be enforced," said Wratten. "What matters is that travellers are given reliable, practical options, not voluntary aspirations that may leave room for higher drop-off charges or parking fees under the guise of sustainability."?