Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[HPsauce]

The new work on the enlarged security area and terminal expansion was given good mention on BBC Midlands Today yesterday, including an interview with Nick Barton.

 

[Timberwolf]

The new work on the enlarged security area and terminal expansion was given good mention on BBC Midlands Today yesterday, including an interview with Nick Barton.

Should be finished next year.

The stand reconfiguarement phase 1 around the south terminal finishes soon should allow an extra two B737/321 to be parked one side.
Phase 2 next winter will add more.

 

[G-MANS]

Will the new security area be upstairs where Burger King and Frankie & Bennies, used to be? That's what it looks like based on the renders and announcements I've seen.

I've travelled through a few times in the last couple of months and noticed that area is all closed, with temporary new walls guiding you through to the current security hall. What happens to the old secuity hall once the new one is complete? Requisitioned as more airside shopping / restaurant space?

Equally I can't place where this proposed new bit will be? Perhaps in one of the extensions to the front of the building. The planning permission for those says they are for "vertical circulation" which I think is project manager speak for stairs/lifts.

 

[Timberwolf]

They could so with restarting the new lounge baggage hall extension.
Also they need more widebodied remotes.Stand 8C has been downgraded to Code C only, leaving just 3 widebodied remotes which often have 2 TUI 787s parked on them.
The airport turned away a Maleth A330 which was due to park up for a while due to lack of expected stand for it.

 

[Coathanger16]

Will the new security area be upstairs where Burger King and Frankie & Bennies, used to be? That's what it looks like based on the renders and announcements I've seen.

That's what my take of the renders was as well.

Requisitioned as more airside shopping / restaurant space?

Not heard anything about this. Also what happens to the staircase leading up to security from T2 (Eurohub)? Not much point keeping it if it only leads to a long corridor upstairs to the new security area. May as well keep passengers downstairs and use that space for another reason.

Equally I can't place where this proposed new bit will be? Perhaps in one of the extensions to the front of the building. The planning permission for those says they are for "vertical circulation" which I think is project manager speak for stairs/lifts.

You can see just to on the left of the render the entrance to T1 from outside, so check-in is behind where the render is taken from, with arrivals and T2 being off to the right.

 

[G-MANS]

Also what happens to the staircase leading up to security from T2 (Eurohub)?

I was wondering the same thing. I don't remember seeing that staircase recently but I'm guessing it is still there and I just didn't notice. The problem is the downstairs connection is such a cramped area, lots of pillars in the way, having to jostle through the crowds at arrivals. It's really not a nice experience walking from Eurohub to the T1 escalators.

You can see just to on the left of the render the entrance to T1 from outside, so check-in is behind where the render is taken from, with arrivals and T2 being off to the right.

Ah yes, so it must be in the new extension they are adding to the T1 curbside frontage. It looks like those silver doors might be a set of lifts, which explains "vertical circulation". Hopefully there are escalators included somewhere, or the current escalators are staying, because lifts only would be terrible.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

As to expansion, my understanding of the airfield is that something needs to be sacrificed or repurposed. Perhaps a chunk of the golf course could be compulsorily purchased for this purpose.

I'm not sure that the airport needs to acquire more land. The following image is taken from the 2018 Master Plan and shows the land owned by the airport -

I'm not sure what the 'employment site' land is for, but there is certainly a lot of land available. Perhaps car parks could be moved, allowing expansion to the south of the current terminals/apron.

 

[JENNYJET]

It appears to be built around itself and the runways and taxiways limit what can be done regards making STS bigger. I often wish the old hangar that blocks the views of the aircraft on 15/33 could be moved or reduced. What is it's current purpose?

 

[Timberwolf]

I'm not sure that the airport needs to acquire more land. The following image is taken from the 2018 Master Plan and shows the land owned by the airport -

I'm not sure what the 'employment site' land is for, but there is certainly a lot of land available. Perhaps car parks could be moved, allowing expansion to the south of the current terminals/apron.

This is an area pencilled in for future development within Solihull boundary.
Not specifically for the airport.
More likely for JLR or housing.

It appears to be built around itself and the runways and taxiways limit what can be done regards making STS bigger. I often wish the old hangar that blocks the views of the aircraft on 15/33 could be moved or reduced. What is it's current purpose?

Twice BHX put in applications to take hangar 2 down then withdrew them before Covid hit.
At a 2018 masterplan roll out public meeting I asked about hangar 2s fate. BHX bosses said it had been taken out of the masterplan at the last second and shoved in the "not sure what to do with it draw"
One of the reasons is cost to demolish it.Has an asbestos roof extremely costly and time consuming to take down.Have to cut small sections out at a time like they did removing the last hangar.Using men in breathing suites !
The initial plan was to take hangar 2 down and widen the road currently single file behind the hangar.To facilitate an expansion of the number of vehicle security checkpoints infront of H2.

 

[Coathanger16]

Birmingham airport reconfigures queuing areas during construction of new security hall

The £40 million project means the upstairs queuing area has been reduced, leading to the airport moving its car hire counters and to create more space

www.businesstraveller.com

Mostly the same information, but did spot this which at least I wasn't aware of. Has anyone mentioned this before:

"Birmingham airport is also undergoing work to fit a new roof over the north side of the terminal, which will let in more light and will be fitted with solar panels providing power to help run the new security scanners."

 

[Timberwolf]

Birmingham airport reconfigures queuing areas during construction of new security hall

The £40 million project means the upstairs queuing area has been reduced, leading to the airport moving its car hire counters and to create more space

www.businesstraveller.com

Mostly the same information, but did spot this which at least I wasn't aware of. Has anyone mentioned this before:

"Birmingham airport is also undergoing work to fit a new roof over the north side of the terminal, which will let in more light and will be fitted with solar panels providing power to help run the new security scanners."

They need to urgently restart the lounge and baggage hall extension. BHX looking like it will be up to or beyond 2019 passenger figures in 2024.
It was the 2019 figures that BHX quoted as requiring the extensions.
Yet I'm hearing nothing about any restart date ?

 

[IanFarquharson]

They need to urgently restart the lounge and baggage hall extension. BHX looking like it will be up to or beyond 2019 passenger figures in 2024.

It was the 2019 figures that BHX quoted as requiring the extensions.
Yet I'm hearing nothing about any restart date ?

They need to urgently restart the lounge and baggage hall extension. BHX looking like it will be up to or beyond 2019 passenger figures in 2024.
It was the 2019 figures that BHX quoted as requiring the extensions.
Yet I'm hearing nothing about any restart date ?

As it stands there is no plans to restart the terminal work but we all know the longer the delay the more it will cost !
Should have cracked on with the work as it would be open by now.
I dont think as it stands 2024 will beat our best year which was 2017.
As you say when records start to be broken again that may well be the trigger to re-start the terminal project.
I guess a lot of the budgeted spend has been redirected to the screening area ?

 

[Timberwolf]

They need to urgently restart the lounge and baggage hall extension. BHX looking like it will be up to or beyond 2019 passenger figures in 2024.



As it stands there is no plans to restart the terminal work but we all know the longer the delay the more it will cost !
Should have cracked on with the work as it would be open by now.
I dont think as it stands 2024 will beat our best year which was 2017.
As you say when records start to be broken again that may well be the trigger to re-start the terminal project.
I guess a lot of the budgeted spend has been redirected to the screening area ?

Yes with inflation so high, cost them additional millions to restart it. So far they just have the lift shaft and stairwells completed and encased in mothballed cladding
Not much they could do about the new security facility being put in .All airports have to have them by mid 2024 Govt stipulation.

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

Watching Airport Action Kev now streams from Car Park 5 near Gate 41C Often a TUI Dreamliner and Air India use the Jetbridges with EK parked the other side. I think I have seen a TUI Dreamliner use Stairs to so assuming we have 3 widebody gates not including the A380 Gate where do Air India, TUI, Saudi and QR go

 

[G-MANS]

Birmingham airport reconfigures queuing areas during construction of new security hall

The £40 million project means the upstairs queuing area has been reduced, leading to the airport moving its car hire counters and to create more space

www.businesstraveller.com

"In addition four new 50-person lifts are being installed at the front of the terminal, to replace existing escalators, which the airport says will free up space on both floors."

As I guessed, it seems like plans are to replace the escalators with four lifts. That's going to be a terrible "improvement". Imagine the chaos during peak summer with everyone queuing to get in the lifts to get up from check-in to security.

 

[Creguk]

I remember when there were talks of a smaller runway being built across the M42? Or did I dream that up?!

 

[Matty_85]

"In addition four new 50-person lifts are being installed at the front of the terminal, to replace existing escalators, which the airport says will free up space on both floors."

As I guessed, it seems like plans are to replace the escalators with four lifts. That's going to be a terrible "improvement". Imagine the chaos during peak summer with everyone queuing to get in the lifts to get up from check-in to security.

Hate to state the obvious but there will be stairs too, I don’t see the problem

 

[David Cartwright]

I remember when there were talks of a smaller runway being built across the M42? Or did I dream that up?!

The M42 is about 3Km from the existing airport boundary , do you mean A45 , that would seem a more logical plan ?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

The M42 is about 3Km from the existing airport boundary , do you mean A45 , that would seem a more logical plan ?

I seem to recall something about this. I believe that it stemmed from the Government's airport policy at the time, where they wanted a second runway at BHX. The airport said it was not necessary and proposed a 'commuter' runway to the west of the A45 and south of the current airport boundary.

 

[rollo]

From a previous post #131 by Ray Finkle.

Plans are to be announced tomorrow for a new terminal and eventually a possible second runway. The original plan was to have the second runway to the South East towards the village of Catherine-de-Barnes but the new proposal will be North East with the terminal being built around the new HS2 station. The big advantage is less homes would be affected and the current runway would close overnight.

It's not clear whether it is a taxiway between the two sites or just a people mover but they're a good mile apart with the railway and M42 between them. It'll be interesting to see more details.



[video]

Two news articles.

http://www.itv.com/news/central/2013-06 ... nd-runway/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-22819552