Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "minded to approve" the privately-financed project estimated to cost pound2.2 billion ($2.8 billion).

"I am issuing a minded to approve decision that provides some additional time to seek views from all parties... prior to a final decision" on October 27, she added in a statement.

Britain's second busiest airport, majority-owned by French group Vinci Airports, wants to expand capacity by bringing its emergency runway into routine use.

This would give Gatwick two fully-operational runways but the Labour government wants more information regarding the plan's impact on issues including noise pollution and transport links before giving its seal of approval.

Thursday's update comes after the government recently backed plans for a third runaway at London's main airport, Heathrow, despite opposition from environmentalists and the London mayor.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is determined to deliver major infrastructure projects to grow a UK economy that has struggled to take off since his Labour party won power in July.

Reacting to the latest Gatwick announcement, Greenpeace UK's policy director, Doug Parr, said "the government must stop throwing mud at the wall in its dogged pursuit of growth", adding that airport expansions "benefit no one but big polluters".