The first phase of Lydd Airport’s multi-million pound runway extension has been completed after it appointed specialists Capita to design and manage the project.

The operations contractor was part of the design team for London’s £14.8bn Crossrail transport scheme.

It will manage the project’s cost, construction and design for the airport on the Romney Marsh.

Lydd Airport Executive Manager Hani Mutlaq said: “Capita has a wealth of experience in the highly specialised area of designing and building transport infrastructure, and was selected for this project partly on the basis of its recent work on the design of a similar runway extension at Southend Airport.”

Lydd Airport’s 294m runway extension, plus a 150m starter extension, will be the first phase of its £25m development plans, which also include a new terminal building.

Once completed, the extended runway will be allow B737-type aircraft to fly with a full load of passengers, making the site more attractive to operators.

The airport is close to completing a number of pre-commencement conditions before work can start.

Bosses hope to put contracts out to tender for the runway’s construction late this summer, with work expected to start before the end of the year.