- Gatwick Airport's £2.2 billion plan for a second runway has received approval from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
- The scheme involves moving the existing emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling approximately 100,000 additional flights annually.
- Ms Alexander endorsed the expansion as a "no-brainer" for economic growth, with new flights potentially commencing before 2029.
- Gatwick projects the privately-financed project will generate £1 billion per year in economic benefits and create an additional 14,000 jobs.
- Local campaigners have voiced concerns regarding the expansion's potential impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision, and wastewater treatment.
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