There is “significant opportunity” to create a commercial model similar to Manchester Airport City at neighbouring Newcastle Airport the airport owners have said in a proposed masterplan document currently out for consultation.

Newcastle Airport in the North of England is hoping to grow passenger numbers from 4.4 million to 8.5 million per year by 2030, helping to contribute £1.3bn to the local economy. David Laws, its chief executive, says that as the airport grows to support capacity, so too must its surrounding commercial property offerings.

“Strong regional airports are attractive to commercial property occupiers, not only through the services they provide, but also because of the combination of surface infrastructure that surrounds them. The Airport City development at Manchester Airport is a recent example of this,” the airport says in its masterplan document, with foreword from Laws.

“Given the strong surface transport infrastructure, including two Metro stations and close proximity to the A1, as well as a land supply to the south of the site, there is a significant opportunity to create a similar regionally important facility at the airport,” it continues.

The proposal, which is open for consultation until 31 October, outlines expansion in the 'Southside' area to the south east of the terminal, which is already host to a freight village, an aviation academy and airport operations. Two areas within Southside have been earmarked for future development after 2030, while one area has been designated for development ahead of this date. The airport advises this future-planning will allow the local council to prepare and consider potential for additional office, storage and distribution facilities as well as for non-airport-related activity.

An additional hotel, adding to the three currently in-situ beside the airport, is also proposed as are further freight and distribution facilities outside of the existing Freight Village.

This article was reproduced and edited from an original story that appeared on our sister site Global Airport Cities.

COMING SOON… Aerotropolis Americas

The Aerotropolis Americas Conference and Exhibition (AACE) is the new annual event for the global airport development and real estate communities, conceived and organised by the same team behind the Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition (ACE). This new three-day conference and exhibition will build on the concept of the airport city and go further to explore how the broader aerotropolis can drive the economic development of a whole region up to 40 miles from the airport. The inaugural event will be held on October 29-31, 2013 in Dallas, Texas, and will be hosted by the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport. Click here for more information