Gareth Bacon, the shadow transport secretary, said it represented an “abject failure” on the part of the Government, which had “fallen at the first hurdle” in overruling blockers to unleash a flood of infrastructure projects – including a potential third runway at Heathrow.

Following Rachel Reeves’ announcement last month that confirmed the government’s support for a third runway at Heathrow, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has today said she is ‘minded to approve’ Gatwick’s plans for a second runway.

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government on Thursday provided provisional approval to the creation of a second runway at Gatwick Airport outside London if certain improvements to the plan were met, including on noise reduction.

The Government has given its backing for a second runway to be built at London’s Gatwick Airport if the project is adjusted. The airport wants to move its northern run-off strip, which is only used for taxiing or as a back-up,

The Civil Aviation Authority made the comments as it announced support for the West Sussex airport's proposed new commitments over the next four years

Gatwick has until 24 April to respond to demands for it to include measures, such as noise mitigation and having a proportion of passengers travelling to the airport via public transport, in its overall plans before a final decision will be made in October.