New flight paths over Gatwick Airport have been put on hold over the “serious concerns” of communities.

More detailed work will take place before the "sensitive" flight path proposals are put forward.

Gatwick said the deferral would give it more time to consider options including the possibility of giving residents affected by noise more respite.

Dr John Godfrey, chairman of GATCOM (Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee), said: “I am pleased that the important role GATCOM has played in ensuring that the serious concerns of communities were addressed by the airport and NATS has been successful.

“GATCOM provides that vital link between the wider communities around Gatwick and the airport’s management enabling the communities’ voices to be heard.

“This has resulted in the Committee’s call for detailed consideration of feedback on the London airspace consultation options and the need for further consultation being positively acted upon.”

“GATCOM will continue to ensure that all parties are appropriately engaged and affected communities kept informed of progress and consulted.” Brendon Sewill, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC), said “This is an important victory for campaigners. “It’s only a partial victory – postponement not cancellation - but it shows that people power works. “We now need to achieve total victory – and defeat the new runway too.”

Gatwick Airport approached NATS with the suggestion to defer any proposals following consultation with GATCOM and NATMAG – the noise and track monitoring advisory group that brings together representatives from the Department of Transport, NATS, airlines, Gatwick Airport and local authorities.

The Civil Aviation Authority’s Future Airspace Strategy requires that changes to local airspace are implemented by 2020.

Tom Denton, head of corporate responsibility at Gatwick, said: “We are taking more time to review the flight change options we have consulted on in order to further consider all the feedback received before making any airspace change proposals.

“It is clear that airspace change is a sensitive issue for the communities around the airport and we encourage members of the community to engage fully with their GATCOM representative.”