UK govt considering £800m airport near Gatwick - report

Plans for an £800m (€1.2bn) airport near Gatwick are under serious consideration by UK ministers preparing proposals to meet the soaring demand for air travel, the Independent reported without citing sources.

It said the project to develop an existing private aerodrome at Redhill into a full-scale airport for domestic and European flights is seen as the only means of circumventing a ban on expansion at the main West Sussex airport.

Last month the High Court overruled the British government's decision to exclude Gatwick from its options for new capacity in the South-East.

The Independent noted that ministers had decided to leave the West Sussex airport out of its plans because of the legal agreement between the Gatwick operator, BAA PLC, and West Sussex County Council.

However, it said it is now expected that 'London Redhill' will be among the options canvassed by the government in a new consultation document due out early next year.