Gatwick Airport is proposing placing a cap on aircraft noise if its Northern Runway is brought into routine use.
It is hoped that this will act as an incentive for airlines to increase the number of quieter aircraft they use at the airport while giving residents a guarantee that as the project reaches full capacity (targeting 2038), it would make less noise compared to noise levels in 2019 – the airport’s busiest year to date.
The airport is also proposing a more generous Noise Insulation Scheme for residents living close to the airport – increasing the number of eligible households by up to 1750 homes compared to the existing scheme.
Residents who have previously taken up grants under the airport’s existing Noise Insulation Scheme will have the opportunity to apply for the new scheme.
Andrew Sinclair, Head of Noise and Airspace, Gatwick Airport said: “We fully recognise that we need to carefully balance any benefits that the routine use of the Northern Runway will deliver, including over 18,000 new jobs, with the impact our plans may have on people living close to the airport. That is why, as part of our Northern Runway consultation we’re proposing to put a binding cap on noise generated at the airport.”
Gatwick has started a public consultation on plans to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine use alongside its Main Runway.
