GATWICK Airport has unveiled plans for a second runway which could maintain London's aviation strength, but lead to 100 people losing their homes.
The plan, which would see Gatwick, Heathrow and Stanstead form a constellation of two-runway airports, were presented to the Airport Commission on Friday.
But the plans released this morning reveal the scheme could cost up to £9 billion and leave 11,800 affected by noise – compared to around 3,300 now.
Gatwick claims the runway, which would be located to the south of the existing runway, could be open by 2025, with the potential to increase the airport's capacity to 87 million passengers per year by 2050.
It could also increase the number of flights to up to 100 movements per hour across the two runways.
But airport chiefs claim the new plan is the most effective way of expanding the South East's airport capacity, which is seen as a vital move in securing the area's financial future.
Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: "London is the best connected city in the world today because the UK's aviation industry is one of the most competitive and innovative. Our proposal to the Airports Commission builds on this foundation and would ensure that the UK has an airports policy which offers the additional capacity that Britain needs, improves the resilience of the airports system and, above all, can be delivered.
"Our evidence shows clearly that an additional runway at Gatwick would best serve the needs of all passengers, and give certainty to airlines, communities and businesses. It would deliver the connectivity the UK needs with lower environmental impacts, whilst spreading the economic benefits.
"A two-runway Gatwick, as part of a constellation of three major airports surrounding London, will also provide flexibility in an industry where the only constant is change."
Land for the proposed runway has been set aside since 2003 but the plans reveal between 50-100 homes could be lost for the development.
The scheme, which could cost between £5 billion - £9 billion, could be privately financed, according to airport chiefs, compared to the expansion of Heathrow which would require government funding.
The proposal is just one submission the Airport Commission will receive, with Heathrow proposing an expansion which would see it become a hub airport.
But Gatwick chiefs claim the 11,800 people potentially affected by noise from the new runway is only 5 per cent of the number who would suffer if Heathrow expanded.
They also claim a two-runway Gatwick would also not breach European and national air quality standards.
Local business leaders have thrown their support behind the scheme, which could apparently create around 19,000 and up to £56 billion of investment up to 2050.
Paul Gresham, chair of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative said: "The £19.2bn Gatwick Diamond economy has developed over fifty years as a result of the location of London Gatwick Airport. International businesses have already chosen the Gatwick Diamond to locate their UK and European headquarters and many more will be attracted as Gatwick grows its routes with a second runway proposal.
"Thousands of new knowledge sector jobs will be created; transport, housing and town infrastructure developed and UK Plc will be benefit. Businesses are telling us that they want, and support a second runway and that Gatwick Diamond Initiative is delighted to support Gatwick's submission to the Airports Commission."
The plans lay out three options for the runway which will be parallel and to the south, either working alongside or separately to the existing runway.
