Mayor Jason Perry has welcomed today’s Court of Appeal decision rejecting legal challenges to London Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project, bringing an eight-year planning and legal process to an end.
The decision provides greater certainty for the project, which will bring Gatwick’s existing standby northern runway into routine use. London Gatwick estimates that the investment will create 14,000 new jobs and contribute an additional £1 billion to the UK economy every year, alongside significant investment in education, skills and business support.
Croydon is particularly well placed to benefit. The borough is a key partner in the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone and has an Economic Charter Agreement with London Gatwick focused on creating jobs, improving access to training, opening supply-chain opportunities for local businesses and attracting new investment.
London Gatwick already contributes an estimated £265 million to Croydon’s economy and supports more than 3,600 local jobs. With the airport only 14 minutes from East Croydon by rail, the Council believes its expansion can create further opportunities across the borough’s hospitality, retail, logistics, professional services and visitor economy.
Executive Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry said:
“This is excellent news for London Gatwick, for the wider region and for the UK economy. After eight years of detailed scrutiny, today’s decision provides the certainty needed to move forward with a project that will create thousands of jobs, strengthen our international connections and unlock substantial new investment.
“Croydon is the gateway between Gatwick and London. The airport is just 14 minutes from East Croydon, and enormous numbers of visitors arriving in the UK travel directly through our borough on their way into the capital. That makes Croydon far more than Gatwick’s neighbour: we are the natural staging post for visitors, businesses and workers.
“Our ambition is to persuade more of those visitors to stop, stay and spend in Croydon, supporting our hotels, restaurants, shops, cultural venues and town centre. We also want businesses looking for an exceptionally well-connected London base to recognise the opportunity Croydon offers.
“Most importantly, this project must translate into real opportunities for local people. Through our Economic Charter Agreement with London Gatwick and our work as part of the Airport Economic Zone, we will help Croydon residents access the new jobs, apprenticeships and training it creates, while ensuring local businesses are well placed to compete for supply-chain opportunities.
“This is another positive step for Croydon’s economy and reinforces our position as one of the South East’s leading locations for investment, skills and growth.”
Croydon Council will continue working with London Gatwick and its regional partners to connect residents with employment and training pathways, promote procurement opportunities to Croydon businesses and showcase the borough to investors.
The partnership’s priorities include economic growth, job creation, supply-chain opportunities, inward investment and the promotion of apprenticeship, graduate and internship programmes to Croydon’s young people.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The Secretary of State for Transport granted development consent for the Northern Runway Project in September 2025.
- The project will enable routine use of Gatwick’s existing northern runway alongside its main runway, supported by alterations to taxiways, terminals and other infrastructure.
- London Gatwick estimates the project will create 14,000 jobs and add £1 billion to the economy annually.
- Croydon’s Economic Charter Agreement with London Gatwick is intended to maximise employment, skills, business and investment benefits for the borough.
- London Gatwick is approximately 14 minutes from East Croydon by direct rail services.
