LONDON, U.K.: The UK government has tentatively approved the expansion of Gatwick Airport, paving the way for a second runway, drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced this week that she was "minded to approve" the project, provided the airport meets conditions on noise reduction and public transport use. The expansion, which had been previously rejected and later revised by planning inspectors, could still face delays of up to nine months before final approval.

Gatwick, located 40 miles south of London, is the UK's second-busiest airport after Heathrow and the busiest single-runway airport in the world, handling over 40 million passengers annually.

Under the proposal, Gatwick would relocate its existing emergency runway by 12 meters (39 feet) to comply with international safety standards. The repositioned runway would be used for departures of narrow-bodied aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

The 2.2 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) privately funded project could increase the airport's annual capacity by 100,000 flights, bringing total flights to over 380,000 per year. The expansion is also expected to create 14,000 new jobs and contribute 1 billion pounds ($1.26 billion) annually to the UK economy.

To secure full approval, Gatwick must ensure at least 50 percent of passengers use public transport and implement measures to reduce noise pollution.

Gatwick, which is majority-owned by France-based VINCI Airports, has until April 24 to formally respond to the government's conditions. A final decision is expected shortly after, but the deadline for approval has been extended to October 27.

If construction begins later this year, the second runway could be operational by the end of the decade.

The expansion has sparked strong opposition from climate activists, who argue that increasing flights contradicts the UK's net-zero commitments. Critics also highlight concerns over air pollution, noise, and local infrastructure strain.

Despite this, proponents argue the project will boost the economy, ease congestion at Heathrow, and strengthen the UK's position as an aviation hub.