Despite not being granted planning permission, London City Airport is expanding its Western Pier. As the project is under ‘permitted development’, the Airport claims it does not need planning permission from the City Development Airport Programme. Boris Johnson previously blocked other expansion plans by the airport earlier in the year but this does not affect the construction of the Western Pier expansion.
The CEO of London City Airport, Declan Collier, has laid out the improvements expected from the new development. The intention is to provide added comfort to passengers by creating more space, seating, and retail and food developments. Once work is completed he has said that the Western Pier will be cutting edge. There will be a bright, open space with modern seating, electronic boarding gates, and added workspaces, quiet areas, and charging points. Collier has said that there will be a “business class feel accessible to all”.
London City Airport was built in 1987, and accommodated thousands of passengers a year. However nearly 30 years later the airport now accommodates millions of passengers a year and so the expansion plans are in place to cope with the demands of passengers whilst keeping up to date with new technologies.
The £16 million upgrade is due to be completed in the summer of 2016. Housing 70% of the airport’s departure gates, the size will be considerably increased, around 84% larger, allowing the airport to cope for the growth in passenger numbers. Collier stated that a record number of people used the airport in 2014 and is on track for that to continue this year, with 4 million passengers expected to pass through its doors. This is because, he said, of the airport’s unrivalled location close to central London, and for the already great experience passengers can expect.