Campaigners denied appeal over Gatwick expansion

Campaigners have lost a bid to take their legal fight against the government over plans for a two-runway operation at Gatwick Airport to the Court of Appeal.

Peter Barclay and campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) previously took legal action against the Department for Transport over the decision to approve the plans, including over claims that the government did not properly assess the climate impact of the scheme.

Cagne and Barclay told a hearing in January the scheme was unlawful, claiming climate impact was not properly assessed.

The £2.2bn expansion will see the West Sussex airport move its emergency runway 12m (39ft) north to allow 100,000 more flights a year.

Mr Justice Mould dismissed the challenges to the airport's expansion in June, finding that it was "neither illogical nor contradictory" for Alexander not to refuse the proposed development "on the basis that it would have a material impact on the ability of Government to meet its carbon reduction targets".

He also rejected an argument about the need for the expansion at Gatwick, given the proximity to Heathrow.

Last month, Barclay and Cagne asked the Court of Appeal to allow them to challenge the ruling, claiming that the judge was wrong.

But in a ruling on Tuesday, Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove dismissed the appeal bids.