Gatwick Airport’s £2.2bn second runway expansion has cleared its final legal hurdle after the Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge against the project.

The Northern Runway, currently used primarily as a standby, will be brought into full operational use. It means from 2030 Gatwick is expected to be operating an additional 100,000 flights a year. The investment, which will create 14,000 jobs, will include amendments to taxiways, terminal extensions and ancillary facilities, highways and rivers.

Peter Barclay, chair of Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC), and CAGNE – Gatwick Communities Against Noise Emissions – have lost their legal fight against the proposals. The Court of Appeal has refused permission for appeal.

Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has described the ruling as “a major milestone for Gatwick and for local communities”, with expansion unlocking investment and creating thousands of new jobs.

Pierre-Hugues Schmit, chief executive of London Gatwick, said the ruling brought to an end an eight-year planning and legal process which has “carefully tested and scrutinised every aspect of our expansion plans on multiple occasions”.

He added: “The Northern Runway project will deliver significant business, tourism and trade benefits for the UK, including 14,000 new jobs, a £1bn boost to the economy every year and a comprehensive employment, skills and business strategy designed to bring maximum benefits to local people and the Gatwick region.  

“This final ruling means that we can now press on with the important job of bringing this exciting project to life and move forward into the design and delivery phase.”