In a letter to David Cameron yesterday the Gatwick chairman said his airport

Early runway start promised by Gatwick

Gatwick Airport has told the Prime Minister that it will break ground on a new runway before the next General Election – if the Government decides to back expansion of capacity at the West Sussex site before October.

The airport also said that its proposed second runway would be fully open before the following Election in 2025.

In a letter to David Cameron yesterday the Gatwick chairman Sir Roy McNulty said his airport's plan is “comparatively simple in terms of planning and construction risks” and that there are no legal issues with air quality around Gatwick's proposal that would run the risk of challenge in the courts.

The letter goes on to say that Gatwick would pay £1000 a year towards the Council Tax of homeowners and tenants most affected by noise from 2025 if the second runway is built. It says that the number of people who are currently “significantly affected” by aircraft noise is 3300 at Gatwick compared to 270,000 at Heathrow.

“A deliverable runway means Gatwick can pledge that Britain gets the economic boost it needs as early as possible,” Sir Roy McNulty said. He added that a decision for Gatwick means London with have “two world class airports”.

In response, Heathrow Airport said in a statement: “The Airports Commission confirmed that a third runway (at Heathrow) would deliver ‘more substantial economic and social benefits than any other shortlisted option’ and that it can do so more, easily and quickly’ than any other option.”

Government is due to give its final recommendation on aviation expansion this summer.