MASSIVE opportunities to create new jobs in Croydon and provide easier and cheaper travel for businesses will result from building a second runway at Gatwick, according to the airport's boss.
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate spoke to the Advertiser at last week's Develop Croydon conference about the advantages the airport's expansion would bring to the town, before signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with council leader Tony Newman.
This is an agreement between the two to work together to help residents and businesses in Croydon realise the economic growth and regeneration opportunities an expanded Gatwick would bring.
If successful in its bid for a second runway, Gatwick's investment of £7.8 billion would include in building the runway plus a new terminal and shuttle transport link.
Separately, Gatwick is also working with Network Rail on a big improvement project for the existing railway station which, Mr Wingate said, will go ahead irrespective of the outcome of the second runway bid.
He said the expansion scheme would create an extra 16,000 jobs directly associated with the airport, adding: "In the Croydon area specifically that could mean between 8,000 and 14,000 jobs."
Mr Wingate said that improved connections and the fact the airport would be responding to greater business demand for low cost flights would, he believed, attract more businesses into Croydon to take advantage of the easy access – with the knock-on effect of creating even more jobs.
Other advantages both the council and Gatwick feel will come from expansion include Croydon businesses becoming part of the supply chain for goods and services at the airport.
Mr Wingate said that in Croydon Council, the airport had found a "a willing and able partner who shares our ambition, and we share theirs."
He added: "Our ambitions dovetail very nicely and we want to help put Croydon on the map."
After signing the MOU, Cllr Newman said: "Croydon is on the brink of Olympic-scale transformation, and just 15 minutes away by train, Gatwick can make a really important contribution to the regeneration and investment already under way in our borough.
"A second runway would bring huge benefits to our residents and businesses, as well as the wider region.
"It would create thousands of new jobs, boost businesses including Croydon's growing tech city, and see further investment in the transport network."
