London Gatwick says it has become the world’s first airport to achieve a globally recognised certification for cutting carbon emissions when designing, delivering and operating new buildings and infrastructure - setting itself up to deliver low carbon assets as part of expansion.

Published by the British Standards Institute, PAS 2080:2023 focuses on reducing carbon across the entire asset lifecycle - from planning and design to construction to operation - and encourages smarter, more efficient low carbon solutions through collaborative ways of working when delivering capital projects. 

As part of the Northern Runway planning application, London Gatwick committed to becoming PAS2080 certified. To achieve this, the airport has embedded carbon management across its construction activities - including changes to decision-making processes and how the supply chain is engaged.  

The new approach has been independently audited by BSI and certified to PAS 2080:2023, demonstrating the airport’s approach to managing construction-related carbon meets the highest industry standards.

It has taken almost two years to achieve the standard and demonstrates the airport’s commitment to tackling climate change by rethinking how it designs, builds and operates its facilities. 

Alasdair Scobie, capital programmes director at London Gatwick, said: “We’re incredibly proud to lead the way in delivering low-carbon airport infrastructure. This certification proves that we’re serious about reducing our carbon impact, including preparation for delivering our Northern Runway plans.”

Gatwick Airport was given the go-ahead by government for its £2.2bn plans for a second runway in September. 

Currently a backup, plans will see the northern runway at Gatwick made operational as a second permanent runway. The project represents a £2.2bn shovel-ready privately financed investment which could be operational by the end of the decade.