GACC responds to the Government decision to grant planning permission for a second runway at Gatwick Airport

GACC begins legal process against Gatwick’s second runway approval

The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) has today (10 October 2025) written to the Secretary of State warning that her decision to approve Gatwick Airport’s second runway was unlawful and GACC stands ready to file a claim.

This marks the first step in a Judicial Review process, which will examine whether the Government’s decision to approve the expansion was lawful.

Chair of GACC, Peter Barclay, said:
“We believe that the Secretary of State’s approval of Gatwick’s runway is unlawful. It fails to properly consider and address the devastating impacts this project will have on local communities, the environment, and the climate. Today we begin the process of holding the Government to account.”

GACC, the long-established community campaign group representing thousands of residents across Surrey, Sussex, and Kent, argues that the Government’s approval disregards serious concerns including:

The increased noise pollution affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

The significant rise in carbon emissions, undermining the UK’s legally binding climate targets.

Untested and unproven assumptions about the benefits of expanding the airport.

The sending of this letter follows extensive consultation with affected communities, environmental experts, and planning specialists.

“The Government’s position on aviation is a mess. National policy is under review, Jet Zero is woefully off-track and yet in expanding Gatwick the Government is burying its head in the sand and ignoring the environmental implications while failing to consider whether the business case even stacks up. Today, we are asking the Government to see sense. If they don’t, we’ll see them in Court “, Mr Barclay added.

The Secretary of State now has 14 days to respond before we file a claim with the Courts. 

Press release issued 10th October 2025