How London Gatwick is planning to stimulate region’s growth
A new Airport Economic Zone has been launched with London Gatwick at its centre. It aims to attract investment to the region surrounding the UK’s second-largest airport that generates £155bn for the economy.
A new economic powerhouse, the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone (AEZ), was launched at UKREiif 2025 to help showcase the region and its strengths to investors and developers from around the globe. At the heart of the AEZ’s purpose is a commitment to showcasing the Gatwick Region as a connected global gateway for business, investment, trade, and tourism.
Centred in the region surrounding London Gatwick, it represents 7% of the UK economy (£155 billion GVA), greater than the combined economies of Northern Ireland and Wales (£123 bllion).
AEZs bring together airports and their surrounding regions collaboratively, to leverage the economic value of the airport and drive a clear identity to promote the unique strengths of the region and attract investment, benefiting both airports and the regional economies that surround them.
A new brand to accompany the AEZ was also launched at UKREiiF, where a delegation of 27 public and private sector partners showcased the Gatwick Region to investors and developers.
The new brand is an important step toward creating a unified, recognisable identity for a region that covers West Sussex, East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Surrey, Croydon, and Kent. The AEZ’s boundaries will remain flexible however, enabling it to adapt and support growth opportunities in neighbouring areas.
This dynamic pro-business region is home to leading universities and industry clusters including aerospace, financial services, life sciences, creative industries, and advanced manufacturing. Strong infrastructure – including London Gatwick, the UK’s second largest airport and major international seaports – make it an ideal location to operate in with ease and at scale.
The economic anchor of the South East
Speaking in May, before taking on his new role as managing director of Vinci Airports in the UK, Stewart Wingate said: “A new economic powerhouse has arrived to drive growth and investment across this outstanding region with London Gatwick at its heart.
“The airport is an economic anchor for the South East and provides seamless access to both global and domestic markets. Forming the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone is part of our future plans to deliver economic growth and give the region a powerful single voice and recognisable identity to help unlock new investment, trade and tourism opportunities.”
London Gatwick already contributes 76,000 jobs and £5.5 billion to the UK economy every year. If approved, the airport’s plans to bring its existing northern runway into routine use, will also deliver a further 14,000 jobs and £1 billion in growth for the regional economy each year.
The next steps for the Gatwick Region AEZ include developing an action plan that shapes the future AEZ operating model – defining its strategic objectives, outcomes, and funding approach. The taskforce taking this work forward will also draft and approve terms of reference, define the role and membership of the board, and identify candidates for the position of an independent chair.
More information about developments in the Gatwick Region AEZ can be found at
www.gatwickregion.com
