CAMPAIGNERS lost High Court challenges today over the expansion of Gatwick Airport.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander approved the £2.2 billion scheme in September, which would move its emergency runway 12 metres north to accommodate about 100,000 more flights a year.

Campaigner Peter Barclay and Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) took legal action against the Department for Transport (DfT) over the decision, arguing that the government did not properly assess the climate impacts.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Mould dismissed the bids, saying Ms Alexander concluded that, while the development will have moderately adverse effects, it will not “materially impact” the government’s ability to meet net zero targets.

The judge said it was “neither illogical nor contradictory” for Ms Alexander not to refuse the development on that basis.

Cagne said it would not accept the judgment “as the final word,” adding: “Our legal team will now consider an appeal, and we will continue to stand up for the communities who will be forced to live with the consequences of this expansion.

“Communities across Sussex, Surrey and Kent helped fund this legal action because they have grave and legitimate concerns about the proposed expansion. Today’s ruling provides no reassurance for those concerns.

“This government must stop viewing aviation expansion through rose-tinted glasses and relying on unsubstantiated claims of economic benefit while ignoring the vast local and global environmental costs.”

London Gatwick said it was pleased with the ruling, calling it a “victory for common sense.”

The DfT also welcomed the decision, saying: “This is a project that balances our environmental and climate commitments with huge economic benefits — bringing around 14,000 new jobs to local people, and delivering £1bn a year to benefit all four corners of the UK.”