Image source, PA Media

That is all for today from our live page on the announcement of a second runway for Gatwick Airport.

You can read more reaction here.

Thank you for joining us.

Image source, Getty Images

Claire Coutinho, Conservative MP for East Surrey and Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said: “The project will bring strong investment and job opportunities to the area.

“However, this needs to be balanced with ensuring the growth of the airport takes into account the needs of those directly affected.

“It is critical that the expansion does not create unnecessary additional pressure on the local infrastructure. It is also important that any mitigating schemes for residents, such as sound insulation, are available and widely publicised to allow residents to apply and have measures installed in plenty of time.”

The Lib Dem MP for Mid Sussex, Alison Bennett, said: “Residents across the South East are very worried about the impact that additional noise will have on their wellbeing and everyday lives.

“Expanding Gatwick would be disastrous for our environment, our health and our communities.

“It’s disappointing that the government hasn’t listened to those concerns – and I’m afraid the idea that just getting more flights in and out of Gatwick will be a big boost to the economy is a fantasy.”

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The county council in whose area Gatwick Airport is located has issued a statement about the expansion of the site.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We note that the secretary of state for transport has decided to make an order granting development consent for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project.

"We will review the details of the planning consent, particularly in relation to the environmental controls and mitigation required, and provide comment in due course.”

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The £2.2bn privately-financed project involves in effect moving the current Northern Runway 12 metres to bring it into regular use, as well as other developments, including extending the size of terminals.

Gatwick Airport currently handles about 280,000 flights a year. It says the plan would enable that number to rise to about 389,000 by the late 2030s.

London Gatwick, in West Sussex, is Europe's busiest single-runway airport, with more than 40 million passengers using it every year.

The plans approved by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander would include adding 40,000 more flights before the second runway opens, and 70,000 more - almost 190 a day - once it is fully up and running.

The airport said that passenger numbers could rise to up to 80 million.

Fiona Irving
South East environment correspondent

Jyotirmoy Dewan, landlord of The Charlwood pub in Charlwood, Surrey, said the runway announcement was "exciting" for his business, located near Gatwick Airport.

"It means lots of job opportunities, more tourism and business," he said.

"Lots of pubs have been closing down.

"This really is a fantastic opportunity for us. More people will come from all over the world."

Jack Fiehn
Surrey political reporter

Surrey and its local councils have a complicated relationship with Gatwick Airport, as well as other surrounding airports like Heathrow and Farnborough.

For example, Surrey County Council has said that it recognises the “crucial” role the airports play in terms of employment for residents.

But at a meeting in July, the Conservative cabinet member for environment, Marisa Heath, also described the local economic benefits of expansion as "limited".

She said there may be gains for companies like hotels, motorway services or freight businesses, but that most travellers were trying to catch their flights and “unlikely to stop off in the Surrey Hills and eat at a local pub".

There are also concerns about issues like traffic and noise, and work is being done by council officers to determine the impact of a greater number of planes.

Emily Coady-Stemp
Charlwood, Surrey

Residents in Charlwood, a Surrey village 4 miles (6.5km) from Gatwick Airport have been reacting to news of the second runway.

Helen Hill, who has lived in the village for 35 years, said residents were "very sad" at the news.

"The airport is quite big enough. In fact, it's too big as it is," she told BBC Radio Surrey.

"We don't need extra expansion, so why would they want to do it and destroy all our villages?"

Ms Hill added that traffic was already an issue with roads at times gridlocked.

"We just can't cross the road," she said.

Meanwhile, Ken Ballam said the expansion could be good as it would bring employment to the area.

He added that he was worried about the possible environmental impact of the move "to a certain extent", though hoped airlines adopting different fuels could help mitigate it.

Image source, Reuters

Aviation expert Julian Bray called it a "much needed" decision.

In a post on social media, he said: "Although capacity will be greatly increased, the overall noise nuisance from aircraft will in practice reduce due to new generation aircraft and a change in the landing system.

"Instead of a linear approach, in future a wider funnel system will be in place so any noise nuisance is no longer concentrated over a set approach path.

"The second runway will see a greater increase in air cargo being diverted from overcrowded Heathrow and lots of employment opportunities created, it will also take pressure off other airports."

Image source, Hever Castle

Duncan Leslie, chief executive of Hever Castle, near Edenbridge in Kent, told the BBC that the Gatwick expansion would mean visitors to the attraction would "constantly be listening to aeroplanes".

He said a "big motorway" or railway would never be allowed because of the site's Grade I listed status, though that seemed to be ignored when it came to planes.

The tourist attraction is 34km (21 miles) from the airport.

Mr Leslie added that he feared there would be twice as many planes after the second runway was built.

Image source, PA Media

Currently, the Northern Runway is only used for taxiing or as a back up.

The second runway would be used for short haul flights, with capacity also freed up for more long-haul services from the main runway.

The decision to approve the expansion plan had been expected in February. But at the time, the transport secretary said she was only "minded to grant consent" for the Northern Runway planning application.

It emerged planning inspectors had expressed concerns over the impact the proposals would have on several aspects on the area surrounding the airport, including traffic and noise.

In April, Gatwick Airport agreed to stricter noise controls, an enhanced insulation scheme for nearby residents, and having 54% of air passengers using public transport before the Northern Runway opened.

Image source, Getty Images

The reaction of BBC readers continues to be varied.

PierP said: "Great news. But will this be blocked and approved and blocked again and so on for the next 20 years?"

6wm74sc2 said: "Aviation is the cleanest and smartest way to move around the planet. Without it, global markets would collapse."

Meanwhile, John added: "Awful decision. A number of airlines have abandoned Gatwick. So there is no need for a second runway."

Lucinda Adam
Sussex political reporter

Gatwick Airport’s bosses reaction to getting the government’s go ahead for its second runway has been rather low key.

It feels like they had learnt a lesson from February when, expecting a green light, they gathered media for a big announcement, talked about being "shovel ready" to start construction and admitted they had champagne on ice behind closed doors.

Instead, they were left shocked when the transport secretary said while she was "minded to approve’ the expansion", she wanted them to go back the drawing board to find ways to reduce noise and ensure passengers travelled to the airport by public transport.

Today, airport bosses have been quiet, stating only in a statement that while they welcome the government’s approval, “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”.

They are being more cautious while they carefully examine whether the demands of the planning consent to see whether their £2.2bn investment, which would come entirely from their shareholders and not public money, would be profitable or whether the projected costs of managing noise and public transport would make it unviable.

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Caroline Lucas, the former Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said on X: "Yet more climate-wrecking decisions from a Government intent on the pursuit of growth at all costs - but the only things that will grow as a result of this disastrous decision are pollution, noise, and climate chaos."

Image source, Getty Images

An organisation which represents businesses in Sussex has welcomed the announcement.

Brett North, from Gatwick Diamond, said it was "great news".

"The biggest impact will be the chance to grow an airport economic zone that's really driving growth," he said.

"I think it will be a great way of attracting inward investment and other growth in the region, that will ultimately deliver high quality jobs and chances for the region to carry on diversifying and growing."

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Mims Davies, the Conservative MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield, criticised the way the announcement was made.

She said on social media: "What about an email or letter to local MPs? Ahead of the formally awaited decision for courtesy and for our constituents who work there or are locally affected. Or will a Sun newspaper column just do!?"

The government and travel industry experts believe the expansion will cut the cost of holidays and boost flight routes.

An additional 100,000 flights per year will be able to serve the West Sussex airport if its emergency runway is brought into regular use.

It is hoped this will lead to more competition between airlines and airports, leading to lower prices.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, described the government’s decision to approve the scheme is “a real win for the UK outbound travel sector”.

She said: “It will not only permit a greater volume of journeys each year but also allow the airport to broaden its flight route offerings, thereby enhancing international travel opportunities.

“It’s also good news for consumers, with increased competition and capacity likely to bring down the cost of flights from Gatwick.

“This expansion is a strategic investment in the UK’s economic future and in making global travel more accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Gatwick Airport

Stewart Wingate, Vinci Airports managing director for the UK and former Gatwick chief executive, said: “After a lengthy and rigorous planning process, we welcome the government’s approval of plans to bring our northern runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline.

“This is another important gateway in the planning process for this £2.2bn 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.

“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.”

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We have just heard from Chancellor Rachel Reeves who has arrived at Gatwick Airport this morning.

She said a second runway will mean lower costs for a family holiday, and a greater choice of destination, as well as more good jobs.

She said: "Today, this government are backing a second runway here at Gatwick.

"That's in addition to our commitments to a third runway at Heathrow, small modular reactors and a new nuclear power station in Suffolk, backing energy projects and transport projects right around the country.

"This extra runway at Gatwick will mean that people going on holiday will have a greater choice of destinations, it will mean lower costs for a family holiday.

"And it will also mean more good jobs paying decent wages through this injection of cash into our economy."

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The reaction of BBC readers has been varied, with some saying the plans are "beyond belief" while others deemed the decision "win win".

Mandrake said: "It's incredible that the government forces electric cars on us, funds renewable energy projects, insists we all meet net zero targets... yet in the same breath it approves projects such as this. Beyond belief."

Anthony432 said: "It'll be another 20 years before its done. Meanwhile in China they can build an airport in a couple of months."

David Nicholas said: "Yet more subsidised transport links in London while the north of England, Scotland and Wales gets diddly squat as usual."

Shony said: "Birmingham would be a better location, given the population density distribution."

Nick said: "More runways mean less congested holding patterns so potentially better localised air quality. Win win."