Gatwick has announced it will offer local residents compensation if its expansion plans are given the go-ahead. 

The airport claimed it will give households £1,000 each year in an attempt to mitigate the increased level of noise. This equates to the lowest band of council tax in the area.

According to bosses, the award would be available to those houses subjected to noise of 57 decibels or more. That means around 4,100 properties would be in line to receive the compensation. 

Chief executive officer Stewart Wingate commented: "Gatwick has long recognised that people who live near airports have concerns about noise and takes its obligations to the environment seriously."

He added the proposals would cost the company £4 million per year and claimed its biggest rival would not be able to afford to make similar awards to residents. According to him, Heathrow would need to compensate around 100,000 properties if it wanted to replicate the plans.