BAA plans pounds 100m-a-year Gatwick expansion
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BAA, THE airports operator, yesterday said it was planning a multi- million expansion at Gatwick to cater for an extra 10 million passengers a year and to relieve pressure on its three London airports.
The company said it was drawing up plans to extend the international departure lounge in its north terminal. The plans would be submitted later this year and, if approved by the local council, the extension would be completed by the end of 2000.
The company already has permission for an 81,000 sq ft extension to the south terminal, which will be ready by the end of this year, and it is understood the new development could be of a similar size. A spokesman said the company was planning to invest pounds 100m a year over the next few years to improve and expand Gatwick.
BAA is pushing ahead with the development because of the delay to its plans for a fifth terminal at Heathrow caused by the public inquiry, which took 525 days to hear all the evidence.
The inspector is not expected to produce his report for another two years and a final decision could take six months.
"We have been planning for a long time to increase the number of passengers to around 40 million at Gatwick," he said.
BAA expects the 95 million passengers who use Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted to double by 2015. It has submitted plans for a development at Stansted that will allow it to handle 15 million passengers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments