Representation by Reigate Business Guild (Reigate Business Guild)
- Date submitted
- 15 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
Reigate Business Guild enjoys the support of over 160 local businesses in the RH2 postcode. We are a local, united, voluntary voice from within the business community, promoting commerce, safeguarding the environment, organising events and supporting activities and opportunities for the benefit of the town. Reigate Business Guild recognise that the success of Gatwick Airport is pivotal to the economy in the Gatwick Diamond Region and is of significant importance to the UK as a whole. The Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project (NRP) will bring a much needed boost to the local economy and will help to secure the future of the Airport. Gatwick serves more destinations than any other UK airport and is the busiest single runway airport in the world. The NRP will be privately funded and is anticipated to cost in the region of £2.2billion. In turn, it will create a net increase in employment of 14,000 jobs and create an extra £1bn in GVA across the area. It will also contribute significantly to tourism within the UK and support a further 26,000 jobs. The NRP is capable of being implemented sooner than many other significant airport projects and would be a substantial benefit to the local economy during and after the works to the Northern Runway. It is recognised that there are environmental concerns raised regarding the increase in aircraft movements and passenger numbers, however the economic benefits to the region are substantial. Reigate and the surrounding area benefit greatly from the economic investment made at Gatwick Airport through local jobs and tourism. While difficult to quantify the number of visitors as a direct result of our proximity to Gatwick, we have been made aware in terms of the need for local hotel accommodation that the airport is essential to their trade. In turn this has a knock on effect for the town through increased business travellers and tourists. Increasing the number of local jobs in the Region will also benefit the Town given our proximity and good public transport link to London Gatwick. The benefits identified in the applicants submission are considered to be substantial and outweigh any identified harms.