Member Article

Masterplan for Durham Tees Valley Airport

Bosses at Durham Tees Valley Airport are gearing up to reveal blueprints for the airport’s development over the next decade and beyond.

Airport strategic planning director Peter Nears today stressed that, despite the difficulties the airport has faced in recent years, the Master Plan would point the way to building on its strengths—including its large landholding and the existing base of aviation-related businesses already established on site.

He also announced that the airport has acquired an important site as part of its future development plans.

The site, covering over 9.5 acres to the north eastern edge of the airfield, is currently unused and includes the steel frame of a former hangar building, last used as a sports and tennis centre, which closed some years ago.

Mr Nears said: “This is a significant acquisition and underlines the importance of maximising the development opportunities of the Airport site. It fits well with the existing landholdings of the Airport and given its position, we believe that there is potential for aviation related engineering, storage and distribution operations.”

The Government has encouraged all regional airports to develop Master Plans and Durham Tees Valley’s efforts follow that of regional competition, Newcastle International Airport, earlier in the year.

Mr Nears added: “We hope to begin the public consultation on the proposals in the Master Plan next month. It is also vital that it has the support of key partners, including the local authorities and the Tees Valley Unlimited Local Enterprise Partnership.

“Once adopted it will provide the clarity and certainty needed by business investors considering setting up operations at the airport…and the two local authorities who have planning responsibilities for parts of the site.

“Of course, everyone recognises that the past few years have been tough for Durham Tees Valley but the Master Plan is all about ensuring that we have the right business model to take the airport forward and reflect the significant changes in the market over the last decade.

“That is how we can best safeguard the airport and the vital services it provides, especially to the local business community who require international connections.

“Very few airports, even the largest, can survive alone from passenger traffic revenue and in the case of smaller airports such as Durham Tees Valley it is essential that they create diverse income streams—and here the availability of development land is a major strength and will enable further investment in airport operations.

“A further strength is the range of aviation related businesses already operating at the airport, some of long-standing such as the international fire training centre and others more recently established but with great potential for growth, such as aircraft dismantling and recycling operations.

“The Master Plan will set out proposals for a wide mix of potential development as well as looking at the future requirements of the airport itself.

“The draft plan we will be publishing in the near future sets out what we believes is a very positive vision—creating a vibrant and sustainable business as a stable and secure basis for ongoing investment in order that the development of Durham Tees Valley Airport is feasible and can be funded.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .