TopBunk,
Using 23 actually cuts both stand capacity, and taxiway/GMC capacity.
We (ATC) have no say in stand allocation or capacity. We declare runway capacity, and it's up to BAA/airlines to decide if there are enough stands..........
Witness BA T4 ops for most of the morning since they moved a load of flights over from Gatwick. And bear in mind that it's not just one inbound and one outbound we have to handle, it's the newly emptied a/c being towed to the other side of the airport, then a fresh empty aircraft being towed the other way to T4 also.
Believe me, we do what we can at the time, such as 'suggesting' stand changes if a suitable stand becomes available.
Gonzo.