THOUSANDS of jobs will be generated under a blueprint unveiled today to transform Manchester Airport into a 'mini city' with huge expansion plans for retail, leisure, conferencing and commercial activities across the complex and in the surrounding area.
Speaking at the MIPIM property convention in Cannes on the vision for Manchester Airport in the 21st century, development boss John Atkins said a deal had been struck to buy 30 acres from property giant Burford Group on the outskirts of the airport, for a figure understood to be more than £15m.
Mr Atkins, managing director of Manchester Airport Group's development arm, said this was the 'last piece in the jigsaw' as it would be combined with the adjoining 30-acre Manchester Business Park - owned by the city council - to form the hub of the Airport City scheme.
This could include manufacturing, conference facilities, shops and entertainment amenities, although the details are still being worked on.
The deal with Burford is expected to be completed at the start of next month. Sources indicated around 5,000 jobs could be created overall, as the Airport City vision takes shape over the next 10 to 15 years.
Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester city council, which has a 55 per cent stake in Manchester Airport Group, said: "It's a stunning opportunity to build on the airport's continued growth, and it is unlikely this could be created anywhere else in the UK.
"We have harboured these ambitions for some time, but could not deliver them until the airport had acquired the necessary site. This provides us with one of the most strategic opportunities for generations, which will continue to reinforce Manchester Airport as one of the most important assets to be found anywhere in Europe."
The airport is planning for the long term, with passenger numbers expected to more than double to 50 million a year by 2030. Sir Howard said the recent slide in passenger numbers during the recession was a 'short-term blip' and added: "We have to prepare ourselves for the next 10 to 15 years."
Mr Atkins said the Airport City concept was based on similar schemes at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport as well as those at Copenhagen and Barcelona, although no single one was being used as the definitive model for Manchester's version.
"We need a Manchester solution, and the acquisition of this 30 acres means we will be able to deliver the scale of what we are looking to achieve," he said.
Core airport activities, including the terminals, aprons and runways, will grow, and alongside those will come more cargo, hotel and logistics facilities as well as retail, conferencing, commercial and leisure developments under the Airport City banner, he added.
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zarquon, bramhall (10/03/2009 at 14:31)
Bean B4, manchester (10/03/2009 at 14:41)
andanotherthing, Mcr (10/03/2009 at 14:46)
Hopefully wythenshawe
Bean B4, manchester (10/03/2009 at 15:03)
espionagemanchester.com, Manchester (10/03/2009 at 19:00)
espionagemanchester, Manchester (10/03/2009 at 19:05)
1970, hell (11/03/2009 at 14:03)
Chapman (11/03/2009 at 17:07)
graham williams (11/03/2009 at 23:51)
Phil Space, Chester (12/03/2009 at 14:31)
What a joke, current management are inept!
There has been no growth since 2005, long before the current recession reared its head. Manchester reached the 22m mark in 2005 and there the figures stayed until 2008 when the downward trend started. The current 12 month figure is 20.7m, below that achieved in 2004.
Bean B4, manchester (12/03/2009 at 15:25)
alan exley (28/03/2011 at 22:33)
when these people going to realize its never going to be a heathrow its just a large regional airport, accept it. dozens of world airlines have give it a go over the last 20 years but few keep operating. save some money save some wildlife.
alan exley (28/03/2011 at 22:45)
many major world airlines have give it a go over the last 20 years but few have stayed.
build where its needed to secure long term employment.