London Stansted Airport has revealed plans for a new arrivals building, set to cost £130m, and the latest phase in its multi-million-pound makeover from owners MAG (Manchester Airports Group). It will provide the airport with a high quality environment that will handle the current 24 million passengers a year, but also support growth up to 45 million.
The new building will measure 34,000m², span three levels and be adjacent to the current terminal and the Radisson Blu hotel. Features will include a larger immigration and baggage reclaim area, new retail facilities and a public forecourt. The existing facility will be reconfigured to handle departing passengers only, offering more space at every stage of travel.
Subject to planning permission and approvals, the new building will take almost three years to complete, with improvement work on the existing terminal due to finish by 2022. As the UK’s busiest single terminal airport, Stansted currently handles up to 5,000 departing passengers through its doors every hour at peak times.
Andrew Cowan, CEO, Stansted Airport, said, “Since MAG acquired the airport in early 2013, we have turned Stansted into one of the UK’s fastest growing airports. It has always been our vision to invest in its infrastructure to create the best experience for our growing number of passengers and airline customers, and have already invested over £150m to update our terminal and satellite facilities, created 1,000 more jobs, added over 40 new destinations and increased passenger numbers by nearly 7 million.
“Subject to planning consent, we will develop our new concept designs in conjunction with our stakeholders and business partners ahead of awarding any contracts for the construction works.”