Birmingham Airport’s ‘unprecedented’ £2bn masterplan takes off

Proposals to almost triple the amount of passengers who pass through the Birmingham Airport by 2041 have been launched, with bosses eyeing up a £3.6bn boost for the region’s economy.

Birmingham Airport took the wraps off a draft masterplan which could see the hub handle as many as 30m passengers per year, up from the 13.7m it served in 2025, with a £2bn investment in facilities across the 500-acre site scheduled for take off as early as next year.

Under the plans, the existing north and south terminals would be combined into a larger, single integrated terminal, proposed to be 60% larger than the present facilities.

Meanwhile, the amount of freight handled at the airport is forecast to rise from 62,000 tonnes to 90,000 tonnes per year, while the amount of parking stands available to aircraft would rise from 41 to 75 over the next 15 years.

Airport supplied forecasts published with the draft plan estimated that the growth of the airport could double the amount it adds to the region’s economy each year, potentially hitting £7.2bn GVA by 2014.

Birmingham Airport’s north and south terminals would be combined into a larger, single terminal building. Credit: Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport currently serves a catchment area of around 30m people and is the UK’s seventh largest passenger airport, the third largest outside London.

“As Birmingham is the UK’s second city, our future plans will help secure ongoing growth in the region, benefiting more people and businesses in the West Midlands with new jobs, better transport links and enhanced connectivity,” said Nick Barton, the airport’s chief executive.

“The £2bn proposed investment is unprecedented at Birmingham Airport and will take our airport close to 30m passengers. This level of ambition sends a strong signal of support and confidence in our airport and wider region. We have a laser light focus on delivering sustainable growth that supports regional prosperity, while responding responsibly to the environmental challenges. This Master Plan will enable us to deliver on that ambition and ensure we are ready for the future.”

Under the changes, the airport’s footprint could also grow by between 10-15% to support the expansion, with additional land potentially required for access, parking, utilities, environmental mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.

West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, described the plans as a “massive boost for the West Midlands economy” which would “unlock vital backing for local businesses and supply chains” – but the airport issued a warning to the Labour government that it was banking on “more favourable” tax and regulatory measures in order to make the plans viable.

“The delivery of this plan is reliant on a fair and stable taxation environment,” added Barton.

“This draft Master Plan comes at the same time where the airport is faced with increasing running costs from employment, energy and taxes. This planned growth over a 15-year period details the length of investment cycles at airports and unless tax and regulatory environments are made more favourable and stable for major infrastructure investment, they may not materialise. Nor will the growth in the UK we all so badly need, in order to deliver our country’s potential.”

A consultation event will be held on 16 October in Hampton in Arden, launching an eight-week consultation period taking place across the region, aimed at sharpening proposals due to be published early next year.

A full list of consultation events, alongside the master plan document, can be viewed on Birmingham Airport’s website.