The chief executive of London City Airport will stand down from his role after five years in the job.

Declan Collier has announced on Friday he would leave the Docklands airport “as it embarks on the next stage of its development”.

Mr Collier had been at the helm of the firm since March 2012 and worked to secure planning permission for a £350 million expansion of the airport last summer.

He will stay on in the job until a new chief executive is hired and will also aid bosses in the recruitment of his successor.

Mr Collier said: “London City Airport is a great business and well placed to take advantage of future growth and new aircraft technologies as we embark on our City Airport Development Programme.

“We have a dedicated and talented team working here and I’m very proud of the work we’ve done to build a successful and sustainable business focused on our customers and community.

"However, as we embark on the next phase of the airport’s development I feel it is the right time to transition to new leadership.”

The expansion project at City Airport, which includes an extended terminal, new taxiways and improved transport links, was given the green light by ministers last July.

Expansion work will increase the number of landings and take-offs from the runway from 70,000 a year to 110,000 a year.

The airport expects to double its annual passenger numbers to six million by 2023.

However, at the time plans were approved, Waltham Forest council deputy leader, Clyde Loakes, claimed the expansion would create a “noise nightmare” for those living in the borough.

A study by aircraft noise campaign group HACAN East found Waltham Forest was the third-most overflown London borough last year.

Leyton, Leytonstone, Wanstead and Woodford are all on the City Airport flight path.