Gatwick vows to start building second runway by 2020

The owners of Gatwick Airport have released footage of their plans to build a new runway.

The airport claims that the expansion would help the UK connect to 27 more destinations than a third runway at Heathrow, while a key architect behind the plans suggests the move could spark an Olympic-style boost for the economy of south London.

Read: Gatwick vows to start building second runway by 2020

• Gatwick claims a second runway, to open in 2025, would link the UK to more destinations than a three-runway Heathrow
• Heathrow and Gatwick were shortlisted as favourites in December by the government's Airports Commission

• Commission chairman Sir Howard Davies said a new airport in the Thames estuary merited further investigation but a so-called "Boris Island" is now thought increasingly unlikely

Leading architect Sir Terry Farrell claimed a new runway would kick start an Olympic-style boost for the economy of South London.

Sir Terry has been commissioned to draw-up plans for expanding the airport as part of a new campaign called "Gatwick Obviously".

The owners of Gatwick Airport vowed today to start building a controversial second runway by 2020. The announcement is the latest salvo in the battle between Heathrow and Gatwick to win government backing for airport expansion.