Consultation has commenced on the latest proposals for the long-term development of Bristol Airport, including more detailed plans for continued growth over the next decade.

‘Towards 2050’ includes a Charter for Future Growth in five key areas:  aviation, economic impact, Green Belt, sustainable growth and surface access.  Design options for an inspirational gateway, improved boundary screening, and innovative uses for a proposed airside platform are also presented. 

Alongside these long-term considerations, proposals for the next stage in the Airport’s phased development are set out ahead of a planning application to increase capacity to accommodate 12 million passengers a year.  The improvements required can be delivered largely within land owned by Bristol Airport, and include surface level car parking,  a new canopy at the front of the building, an additional multi-storey car park, and improvements to the on-site road layout.  Local highway improvements to enhance access are also proposed.

Proposals will also be developed to address impacts on the local community and environment, including in key areas such as aircraft noise, where no increase in annual night flights will be sought.  

Janis Kong, Chairman of Bristol Airport, said: “It was clear from the initial consultation on preparing a long-term Master Plan that local communities wanted clarity on our development plans and solutions to some of the issues they face living close to a busy international Airport.  By bringing forward this planning application in tandem with our emerging thinking on the Master Plan, we will set out how phased growth can be achieved through the 2020s as part of an exciting longer-term vision.”

Simon Earles, Planning & Sustainability Director at Bristol Airport, said: “These proposals will ensure Bristol Airport continues to provide the connectivity our region needs to be successful while offering local residents and stakeholders greater clarity about the phasing of future development.  We welcome feedback on these proposals as we work towards submitting a planning application to North Somerset Council this autumn.”

Bristol Airport is the UK’s ninth busiest airport, and the fifth busiest outside London, serving more than eight million passengers in 2017.  Planning permission is already in place for facilities to handle up to 10 million passengers per annum, and £160 million has been invested in infrastructure improvements since 2010.