UK airport expansion must be sustainable and regional, says expert
Aviation growth should not be concentrated in the South, with a focus on resilience and climate adaptation, according to Ramboll.
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The UK is entering a new phase of airport expansion, with significant projects underway at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton. However, experts are calling for a more balanced approach to aviation growth, arguing that it should not be concentrated solely around London. This focus risks reinforcing regional economic imbalances and overlooks the potential for airports outside the capital to act as international gateways.
Regional Growth Potential
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Richard Graybrook, Ramboll's head of aviation for the UK, Ireland, and Europe, stated that while London's airport expansions will bring economic benefits, a strategy predominantly focused on the South could miss opportunities for national growth. He highlighted that airports in cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford, Liverpool, and Newcastle have the capacity to significantly enhance their regions' connections to international markets. Supporting these regional airports could stimulate local businesses, attract investment, and reduce the need for domestic travel to access international flights.
A genuine national aviation strategy, according to Graybrook, should prioritise where new capacity is located to maximise economic, social, and environmental value, rather than simply accommodating more passengers. Developing a stronger network of regional international gateways is presented as a key component of this strategy.
Embedding Sustainability and Resilience
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The focus for airport development must extend beyond passenger numbers and terminal size to encompass long-term performance and sustainability. Gatwick Airport is cited as an example where sustainability has been a core consideration from the initial planning and design phases. This includes efforts to reduce operational and embodied carbon, improve energy efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and consider the whole-life cost of infrastructure.
Sustainability in this context also encompasses broader environmental factors such as water consumption, biodiversity, waste management, air quality, and local transport impacts. Projects should establish measurable sustainability targets throughout their lifecycle, from procurement and design to construction and operation. Graybrook emphasised that sustainability cannot be an afterthought; critical decisions are made early in the planning process.
Designing for Future Climate Conditions
Airport infrastructure needs to be designed with future climate conditions in mind, rather than relying on historical averages. Climate-risk assessments should inform the fundamental design of buildings and infrastructure to prepare for enhanced drainage, flood management, water storage, passive cooling, and resilient power supplies capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. Critical systems require built-in redundancy to prevent widespread disruption.
This focus on resilience should extend beyond airport terminals to include surrounding transport and utility networks. Treating resilience as an investment, rather than an additional cost, is crucial, as the expense of designing for foreseeable climate conditions is likely to be less than the cost of repeated disruption. Furthermore, airport expansion can facilitate decarbonisation by providing infrastructure for electric ground vehicles, efficient aircraft turnarounds, and sustainable aviation fuel logistics.
Graybrook concluded that airport expansion is a significant opportunity to unlock investment, create jobs, and strengthen international connectivity. The goal should be to build better airports that are resilient, adaptable, and low-carbon gateways, viewed as strategic national infrastructure that supports Britain's economic ambitions.
Questions this report answers
+What is the main opportunity presented by UK airport expansion?
Airport expansion offers the UK an opportunity to build modern, efficient, resilient, and low-carbon aviation hubs. This development can support future economic growth and international connectivity while addressing environmental concerns.
+Why should airport growth not be concentrated around London?
Concentrating aviation growth solely around London risks reinforcing regional economic imbalances. Airports outside the capital have the potential to connect their regions internationally, supporting local businesses and attracting investment.
+How should sustainability be integrated into airport projects?
Sustainability must be embedded from the earliest stages of planning and design. This includes considering operational and embodied carbon, energy efficiency, renewable energy, water consumption, biodiversity, and waste management, with measurable targets throughout the project lifecycle.
+What is the importance of designing airports for future climate conditions?
Airports and expansions need to be designed for future climate conditions, not historical averages. This involves incorporating measures for enhanced drainage, flood management, resilient power supplies, and infrastructure that can operate through extreme temperatures to mitigate disruption.
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