Durham Tees Valley Airport reveals Master Plan up to 2020 and beyond
14-Nov-2013 A Master Plan to secure the long term future of Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) has been published, which includes a two month period of public consultation commencing this Friday (15 November). Local Authority partners, Tees Valley Unlimited (LEP), regional businesses and the public are being asked to support the Plan as the best way forward to maximise the Airport's role in supporting the regional economy.
The 180 page blueprint focuses on maximising the potential of the whole DTVA site and on re-positioning the Airport to focus on business routes serving the needs of the region and to broaden the base of aviation related activity on the site. This will be enabled by new developments on the north and south sides of the Airport runway to establish DTVA as a leader in aviation related business. This will build on existing activity at the Airport in, for example, aircraft engineering, dismantling and recycling and lead to the creation of a multi-modal logistics centre - air cargo, with rail and road connectivity - to maximise the employment potential of the Airport's landholding.
Leisure destinations accessible via scheduled services to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will be promoted alongside business services through marketing activity and the Airport terminal will be remodelled. Northside development proposals include a mixture of offices and residential (250/400 dwellings), with associated community facilities and an extension to the on-site St George's Hotel. Development on the Southside, which would be accessed by a new link road, comprises a logistics and business park, engine testing facility and additional aviation support facilities, including a new apron and associated hangars.
Delivery of the Master Plan, which would be phased to 2020 and beyond would create up to 3,800 new jobs, plus a further 450 jobs during construction phases and add over £348 million GVA (Gross Value Added) to the regional economy. It will help secure existing routes to international markets with the potential to develop new routes to other UK and European destinations. Passenger numbers are forecast to grow to 200,000 by 2020 in line with Government forecasts from the figure of 165,000 passengers handled in 2012.
DTVA Strategic Planning Director, Peter Nears, said, "The Master Plan sets out the path to reposition the Airport to establish a viable business model and investment strategy for the long term. "Few airports, even the largest, can survive on revenues from passenger traffic alone and many have established wider development platforms to diversify income sources to enable re-investment in airport services.
"The Airport has land assets, which provide the development opportunities we must pursue if we are to improve the whole DTVA operation. The Master Plan sets out a clear way forward and I ask all our stakeholders, the business community and the public to get behind it so the Airport can maximise its contribution to the region's future economic growth objectives."
A programme of consultation will follow the publication of the Master Plan to include briefings with stakeholders, the business community and public exhibitions to explain the proposals to local residents and businesses. Full details of these activities will be published shortly.