The government has backed plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport, provided measures to reduce noise and improve public transport links are in place.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "minded to approve" the expansion, though it still requires planning permission. Gatwick wants to move its northern runway, which is currently used for taxiing, to make it operational by the end of the decade.
The £2.2bn privately funded project could start almost immediately if approved, with a final decision expected in October. The airport argues a second runway would ease congestion and increase departures by 50,000 a year by the 2030s.
Opposition is strong, particularly from environmental groups. Greenpeace UK warned the expansion would worsen pollution and emissions, while critics argue it won’t create new jobs but shift them from elsewhere. Gatwick insists the move would offer new routes, airlines, and more choice for travellers.