Bournemouth Airport expansion plans approved
BCP Council planning committee give green light for £50m investment
Bournemouth Airport has received approval by BCP Council to expand its terminal in a huge £50million investment.
The approval followed a 8-1 decision by BCP Council’s Eastern Planning Committee.
A phased plan involves joining the departure and arrival buildings to allow for a single terminal were submitted to the committee. The plans also show four extensions for the terminal building, three of which will take place in the first phase, and a reconfigured transport interchange.
As part of the reconfigured transport interchange there will be; four taxi lanes, three spots for buses, a new area for Beryl bikes and improved access for pedestrians.
The airport is one of the largest employment sites in Dorset and the £50 million investment is expected to create 230 direct jobs and facility up to 3 million passengers.
Sustainability was a key issue for this development; the airport will be using materials that are energy and thermal efficient and methods for ventilation and heating will achieve two per cent carbon reduction.
Transport improvements will also help with sustainability, currently bus services to the airport are meant to be hourly but are infrequent making it difficult for passengers and staff to commute. A £500,000 contribution from More bus has been received to improve the service and a £60,000 bus fare incentive will be available to encourage staff to travel by bus. Ninety percent of staff currently travel by car which adds to the traffic issues around the airport.
Additionally, to mitigate issues with hazardous parking caused by airport pick up and drop off in the area a red zone will be put in place. Cameras will also be placed in the area to monitor the area to ensure no stopping happens in the zone. It will cost a total of £170,000 to implement the red zone including camera enforcement and equipment, traffic regulation and red lines to be put down.
Clare McCarthy, senior planner, said: “The benefits in this situation outweigh the harms, and any harms that have been identified can all be mitigated.”
Russell Horn, Chairman of Brockenhurst Parish Council objected to the proposed plans due to noise from air traffic. In a written statement read out in the meeting he said “complaints about aircraft noise have escalated rapidly”.
Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “This decision ensures Bournemouth Airport can continue to serve as a vital regional asset, creating jobs, supporting businesses, and delivering connectivity for the future”