Latest News

Plans for Manchester airport to become a mini city

Page last updated: 27th Mar 2009 - 02:40 PM

Plans to turn Manchester airport into a “mini city” have recently been revealed. The Manchester Airport Group Developments Ltd announced at a property convention in Cannes that the purchase of 30 acres of land from the Burford Group had been agreed at a cost in excess of £15 million. This land purchase was described as the “last piece in the jigsaw” for the ambitious plans to become a reality.

The Airport City will provide, in combination with the council-owned Manchester Business Park, all manner of facilities on the two million square feet site including retail, leisure and entertainment outlets, manufacturing and commercial premises, hotel and conference facilities, as well as increased runway capacity and extended terminals and cargo facilities.

Approximately five thousand jobs are likely to be created over the next ten to fifteen years which will come as welcome news as nationwide unemployment tips the 2 million mark.

The chief executive of Manchester City Council has brushed aside concerns that this is perhaps not the best of times to be contemplating such a development, saying that the current downturn in passenger numbers due to the economic situation is a “blip” and that it is imperative to look to the future. Passenger numbers at Manchester are predicted to rise to 50 million by 2030.

Planners have been looking at Barcelona, Amsterdam and Copenhagen airports as possible blueprints for the new Airport City at Manchester.

The plans will come as bad news for SEMA, a group which campaigns to stop expansion at the airport on environmental grounds.

Comments - 4

1. Dorothy Higson

30th Apr 2009 - 08:03 PM

I only hope that these plans contain some help for passengers arriving on an overnight flight and who are transferring onto another flight later in the day. Judging from my personal experience on Tuesday morning, there is NO PROVISION for this. I and a friend, travelled overnight from Orlando, arrived at Terminal 2 at 7:30 a.m. collected our baggage, [4 suitcases] and walked the Skyway to terminal 1, only to find that we could not check in for our next flight with Monarch airlines until 12 Noon! We were then informed that the only place we could wait where there was seating was in the Arrivals Hall at terminal 1, which is dark, and very cold, due to the constant opening and closing of doors, and has no facilities to cater for a luggage trolley with 4 suitcases, which we were constantly reminded for security reasons had to be kept with us at all times. Having spent 8 hours on an overnight flight we did not expect to have to wait, some 4 and a half hours before we could access the facilities of the departure lounge. I would suggest that your executives visit Orlando airport and the facilities available there for passengers who have not yet passed through the security barriers into the departure lounge. To add further insult to injury when we did go through security we were asked to purchase a plastic bag in which to deposit a cigarette lighter that had previously been scanned at Manchester airport some ten days earlier and then at Orlando without the need for a plastic bag!
I have enclosed an e-mail address and would very much appreciate your comments on what you propose to do to aid your many transfer passengers. Incidentally we did also meet an American gentleman - a wheelchair user, and his wife who also had a baggage trolley having used the overnight flight inbound from Chicago, and who was flying onto Tenerife.

Report Comment

2. cliiff dowd

10th May 2009 - 06:52 PM

this can only be a good thing for the people of greater manchester.i think the economic situation will improve sooner rather than later and manchester will be one step ahead of other airports

Report Comment

3. Roger Carrington

4th Jun 2009 - 04:59 PM

Great idea so long as the jobs go to local people!

Report Comment

4. Dr Peter Bostock

25th Aug 2009 - 09:10 PM

Will these supposed jobs make up for the ones our airport has lost because Ryanair has gone elsewhere?
I thought a bird (job) in the hand was worth two in the bush (the future?).

Report Comment