Future Infrastructure Developments

[lbaspotter]

What happened to the service station they were going to build there?

That planning application for the filling station was withdrawn last year buy looks of things.
Whats more interesting is the fact I've just searched the Leeds City Council planning portal and can't find any new submitted planning applications for a Car Park on that bit of land, but the person whom has informed me of today's movements says that the contractor showed him the drawings/plans.

 

[Bigman]

They would do better filling that whole area in with a new taxiway and remote parking stands, and build a big multi-story car park down by the Travelodge. Far too much land that could have been banked up and used for additional parking stands has been taken up as car park.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

It would make sense for the new car parks to be near the new link road, rather then increasing traffic in a area where locals feel enough is enough.

 

[ls27]

The lower car park, opposite the terminal was original put in that way so it could be developed as a multistory car park.

 

[Aviador]

The lower car park, opposite the terminal was original put in that way so it could be developed as a multistory car park.

When Bridgepoint took over contractors carried out some kind of earth sampling throughout the short stay and executive car parks to test for suitability of future developments.

 

[White Heather]

It would make sense for the new car parks to be near the new link road, rather then increasing traffic in a area where locals feel enough is enough.

All the existing car parks are already near the proposed link road and they are running out of expansion space down there within the airport boundary. The proposed car park opposite the Hawthorne Farm is the first in that area, and is within the airport boundary, so the airport are well within their rights to use it in this way. I know there is the other car park along there - one which LBA objected to, but the planning rejection was overturned on appeal and we can't really say to LBA management that they can't use their own land for parking just because there is another private car park further down the road. On the subject of taxiways also, the proposed car park does not impact on the longer term plans to build a taxiway from the main runway down to the existing turning loop. Both of these schemes are shown in the Masterplan alongside each other, as did the previously proposed petrol station on the corner.

 

[Aviador]

White Heather

Is it possible you could check with the airport management on your next committee meeting whether or not the new owners are planning to bring out a revised masterplan?

 

[White Heather]

I shall try to remember Aviador, yes.

 

[lbaspotter]

So with this new Car Park been on the Airports own land I guess its why I can't find any new planning permission for it on Leeds City Councils Live Planning Portal?
The only application I can find for that bit of land south of Warren House Lane is the Petrol Filling station which had no amendments made to it, before it was withdrawn late last year.

 

[lbaspotter]

Looks like the started to break ground on the new Car Park this morning

Photo is posted on here with kind permission from its owner Andrew Easby
Source: https://scontent.fman1-2.fna.fbcdn....=8f9ddb02e41c3f36167f6675a2614e22&oe=5A9A0D03

 

[Bigman]

Digger spotting now as well as planes??

 

[lbaspotter]

Digger spotting now as well as planes??

The airport is so quite the no planes to spot. So might as well turn into a digger spotter! Just as good as trains..

 

[SNOWMAN]

The airport is so quite the no planes to spot. So might as well turn into a digger spotter! Just as good as trains..

or buses
better get my coat then.

 

[a300boy]

All we need now is a special deal for the locals to park in it on the cheap.

 

[White Heather]

Today marked the December meet of the Airport Consultative Committee, so here is my update with regard to Infrastructure, as reported today.

The new terminal roof extension is now completed and forms an integral part of the plans for this winter, which are as follows:

Further enhancements and changes to the Security hall to work towards ensuring that 96% of passengers clear the security scanning area within 5 to 6 minutes from next Summer.

A revamp of the Sports Bar and Saltaire Bar (which will then be targeted towards families), plus a new retail outlet to be known as The Cabin. There will also be a brand new Starbucks outlet, which will be situated where the current Executive Lounge is (although it will not take up all of that space - see below).

The Executive Lounge and Family Lounge will relocate to the newly completed roof extension area - so if you want to see the airfield whilst you wait, that is the place to be!

The remainder of the space vacated by the Executive Lounge will be taken up by the installation of the 500 seats previously reported and already on site awaiting installation. These will NOT be linked to any retail outlet, although David Laws (Airport CEO) did say, somewhat mischievously, that they will be situated close enough to the Starbucks and other outlets to hopefully tempt passengers. Passengers will literally be able to wake up and smell the coffee!

The area outside the terminal front will be improved. Current block paving will be removed and a new surface installed as far as the bus stops. At the same time a covered walkway will be installed from the terminal to the bus stops (only to that point at this stage, although it sounded like it may be extended at a later date).

The new car park on Warren House Lane will be constructed and will be known as The Viking car park - bringing new LBA jobs. It will be bookable on the airport website in the not too distant future and will compete directly with the private enterprise over the road.

David Laws made it clear that these changes were intended to maximise retail revenue for the airport - and that this revenue is then intended to go towards funding a major change in the terminal next winter, hopefully ready for use by Summer 2019. These changes are as I previously suggested and will go a long way towards improving the efficiency of the airport and I believe they are quite exciting. They comprise:

All Check in facilities to be relocated to the NW end of the terminal, using the current Hall B and space within the terminal adjacent to Hall B.

From there, all passengers will proceed to the new Security Screening area, which will be relocated to the area currently used for International Baggage Reclaim on the Ground floor.

From there, all passengers will use the existing escalator location to move to the upper floor from where they will access the retail outlets and seating areas, moving through the terminal from the NW down to the SE ends.

From the first floor retail and waiting areas, passengers will use the escalators to descend down to the Departure Gate area.

For inbound passengers, they will arrive at the SE end of the terminal and will enter the new Immigration area which will be sited where the current security screening area is, providing more room.

From there, passengers will progress to the Baggage Reclaim area which will relocate to the area currently occupied by Check in Hall A and from there, they will leave the terminal.

These changes also require the provision of a new Airport Fire Station at a location yet to be decided. The present Fire Station will then be utilised as a holding area for baggage.

The changes, overall, eliminate the current problems with passengers crossing over each other (eg Hall B passengers who have just checked in having to cross International Passengers who have just picked up their baggage and ensure all check in, security, immigration and baggage reclaim are on the same (ground) floor with the upper floor exclusively a seating and retail area.

The changes sound logical and should greatly enhance the terminal and passenger experience, although I can imagine a few headaches whilst all the changes are going on.

Finally - Aviador - it was confirmed by David Laws that AMP Capital are content with the Airport Masterplan and have instructed him to 'get on with it'. Mr Laws also stated that securing AMP as new owners was a huge boost to the airport. They are, in Australia, a huge company, and LBA is now funded from a global pot of money worth in the region of $140bn. AMP are in it for the long haul and are not taking on LBA simply to enhance its value and then sell.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

@White Heather Does this mean that there will be the loss of Cafe Ritazza when the eventual move goes ahead?

Also ... will they fill the gap in the terminal to make it flow evenly?

 

[White Heather]

@White Heather Does this mean that there will be the loss of Cafe Ritazza when the eventual move goes ahead?

Also ... will they fill the gap in the terminal to make it flow evenly?

No idea Sherburnflyer. We were just given an overview at this meeting, no specific details, although I imagine that Cafe Ritazza will have to move. Not sure what you mean by the gap in the terminal - if you mean the terminal extension for which they have planning permission, that is not on the agenda just yet as the changes this winter, and these changes next year, will have the affect of increasing terminal capacity without the need for the extension to be built yet - hence the enhancements to the area immediately outside the terminal as I mentioned above.

The next meeting in March should provide us with more detail hopefully.

 

[White Heather]

Further to my previous post on Infrastructure - the latest on the proposed Airport Parkway Station is that LBA now sit on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Board who are charged with overseeing the various transport changes envisaged, including the LBA Parkway and other stations. LBA are lobbying hard to have the Parkway Station accelerated and treated in isolation to other station projects which are impacted by issues relating to electrification of the Trans Pennine route - which the Harrogate line is not. So at present, the programme indicates completion of the station by 2023, but LBA are trying to get this brought forward.
No decision has yet been taken on the Link Road route although work is ongoing to firm up the details relating to each route option. When this is done a further consultation is likely before a final decision is taken.
My own view however is that as the Council themselves have mentioned a Park and Ride scheme at the Airport Parkway Station however, it is difficult to see how any option other than A can work. It is the only option to provide a good road access to the Park and Ride, to the Airport itself, and to the planned Airport Business Park behind the Avro Factory.

 

[Finger66]

In these times of scratting around to find some positive news to come out of LBA just now perhaps this thread is just that. The proposed terminal changes make good sense. The difficulty is undoing all the itty bitty here and there improvements (used loosely) that were undertaken by Bridgepoint. These latest changes do at least look meaningful. The big thing for me though is still aircraft parking stands. We are hindered to accept more based aircraft so now rely on W patterns. So I was perhaps hoping that the creation of the new long stay car park, which is well away from the terminal and apron may just allow existing car park space, albeit with huge "fill" needed to create more apron space. There are promising signs around extra terminal capacity, transport and parking but it's no damn use if you have nowhere to park the aircraft that are going to carry these extra passengers. That said, no use having extra aircraft parking if the rest of the infrastructure is at full capacity. My point being though is that these things need to run hand in hand now and avoid further delays in attracting new services.

 

[a300boy]

You mean a bit of pro-active not re-active thinking for a welcome change ! I agree.