New Arrivals Terminal For LBA

Plans revealed for new state of the art terminal extension Leeds Bradford Airport is delighted to announce the next phase of its redevelopment plan. The region’s biggest airport is planning a multi-million pound, three-storey extension to its terminal building, that once complete, will house a transformed international arrivals process, including immigration, baggage reclaim and customs. The extension will also accommodate new, larger departure gates, seating areas and new retail and food & beverage outlets. Once the new building is completed – scheduled for the end of 2019 - works will then commence on re-modelling the existing terminal building to provide a new security central search area, enhanced check-in facilities, and a simplification of the customer journey through the existing departure lounge, which will also include new retail and F&B offers. We expect these works to be complete for summer 2020. The final phase will include the construction of a new pier, replacing the current passenger walkway with a twostorey structure, housing arrivals and ground level, and departures being processed at additional new boarding gates on the first floor. As part of its redevelopment plans, the airport is inviting the people of Yorkshire to contribute to the future development of their airport. In addition to a three-week consultation period, airport officials will be hosting a dropin event at the Britannia Hotel in Bramhope on Thursday 27th September and the proposals will now go through Leeds City Council’s planning process. David Laws, Chief Executive at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “These really are exciting times for this airport and we are delighted to be able to now share our plans for phase two of our terminal redevelopment. “This new extension will transform the experience for both departing and arriving passengers whilst also adding a ‘sense of place and pride’ throughout the terminal, as we want to play our part in creating a great first impression for inbound visitors. “A thriving region needs a thriving airport and we hope the people of our great county will see these latest plans as a real statement of intent as we continue to strive to create an airport Yorkshire can be proud of. “Work continues to improve our route offering for both business and leisure services and we hope to have more exciting announcements in the near future as we look to open up Yorkshire to new global opportunities.” Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “The airport is already a major contributor to the city region economy and we welcome this significant new investment. “It will enhance the experience for existing and new passengers as new routes are introduced. In turn, these will open up additional markets for local businesses.” Issued: 14 PRESS RELEASE th September 2018 Sir Gary Verity DL, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is fantastic news for Yorkshire, bringing great benefits to both leisure and business travellers as well as the wider economy. David Laws and his team are to be applauded for the positive changes they are bringing to Leeds Bradford Airport. These latest plans are symptomatic of the scale of their vision and overall ambition to make the airport one the whole county can be proud of. Passengers will soon experience an airport truly fit for the 21st century.” Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake, said: “We very much welcome these plans for a terminal extension and improved facilities at Leeds Bradford Airport, and we look forward to seeing them come forward for full consideration by Leeds City Council’s plans panel. The airport is a key element of the Leeds and wider regional economy, and we are fully committed to supporting its growth.” Henri Murison, Director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “The Northern Powerhouse future relies on connectivity, whether it be in transport terms to key European export markets by flight to digital connectivity. This investment by Leeds Bradford Airport here in Yorkshire is a sign of their confidence and commitment to helping businesses here to grow and attracting inward investment. “At the same time, we see commitment from city leaders and the combined authority to improve the journey to the airport with a link planned on the Leeds to Harrogate rail line. This is why the airport will keep growing the number of destinations available to business and leisure travellers – transformed facilities and lounges already, more capacity and more choice on how to get here from across the region.”

 

The planning application has now been uploaded to Leeds City Council planning website. There are a number of plans and artists impressions to view. There a couple of changes, the main ones being that there is now a car park underneath the building, maybe for service vehicles/deliveries and arriving passengers will no longer exit the building via a ramp covered by a canopy, but will now walk along a corridor back into the current building into what is currently the security screening area, this will be a new arrivals/meet & greet hall with a cafe (I’m guessing a new Ritazza). I think it longs pretty good.

 

Have you got the planning application number so I can have a skeg at the plans?

 

The plans look much better than the original renders I’m still unsure about the undercroft but I suppose the topography means it is difficult to work around.

 

The planning application has now been uploaded to Leeds City Council planning website. There are a number of plans and artists impressions to view. There a couple of changes, the main ones being that there is now a car park underneath the building, maybe for service vehicles/deliveries and arriving passengers will no longer exit the building via a ramp covered by a canopy, but will now walk along a corridor back into the current building into what is currently the security screening area, this will be a new arrivals/meet & greet hall with a cafe (I’m guessing a new Ritazza). I think it longs pretty good.

That is good, because, as promised, I spoke to both the airport management, and their architect, about the issue of the ramp and it being exposed to the weather, which would have been a problem in the winter. They did say they would have another look, and they did say also that they were going to look at finding another way for passengers to exit, so it appears that is what they have done. Good outcome!

 

Was also weird the first design kicked Arrivals outdoors immediately after customs. Far more sensible to have indoor Arrivals waiting area for families etc.

 

Arrived last night at 17.00hrs with 8 other flights. The existing lifts can take only one wheel chair and career at a time, there were 5 wheelchair passengers on our flight and a similar number on others, I counted 9 wheelchairs waiting to use the up lift and 12 passengers with walking sticks waiting for the lift. Similar situation with the lift down to baggage.
Lift size on the drawing seems to be the same as today, we need hospital size lifts to take at least 6 wheel chairs at a time, talking to SA staff, they think the small lifts staying, anyone know the facts before I write to plead for large lifts.

 

Right I've mulled over these plans for sometime now and here are my thoughts. As ever I'm going to be brutally honest.

I'm not going to get involved with the aesthetics of the building just the facilities usability which is all that will matter to passengers once it is constructed.

First of all I'm somewhat worried the architects haven't considered what I would consider to be fairly basic requirements for any new arrivals terminal or a terminal in general, that would be a continuous flow following the line of sight from the point you enter the terminal building to the point you leave the terminal. Sir Robert McAlpine had the challenge of doing just that on a budget terminal for Stansted Airport back in 1991. So although a larger structure, it is possible on a budget.

If you look at the arrows on the plan above they indicate the general flow, not the meandering around the numerous tenser barriers in the new immigration area. Passengers will then exit the immigration area looking east towards the baggage carousels and looking away from what will be the new exit. This will confuse some passengers as it has been proven to do this in the current set up which is laid out similar but with the immigration area on a different level. To alleviate this problem the floor plan should be flipped so arriving passengers enter the new facility at the east end with the exit in front by line of sight at the west end.

The provision of WC facilities looks similar to what is already present in the current arrivals set up so I would question whether these will be sufficient. The layout of the toilets appears to be better with no entry doors indicated so this should make it easier for all passengers. Not indicated in the plans but there will also need to be a provision for toilet facilities in the new meet and greet area.

It has already been mentioned as to whether three carousels is going to be sufficient. I do tend to agree as there are already periods when several flights land close together. The new carousel provider should be able to provide the capacity details of the number of bags they are capable of handling. Five flights landing close together is going to be close on 300 people around each belt.



The architects have failed to take into consideration the needs of passengers with baggage with at least four turns on what looks to be a fairly narrow walkway through the new customs area where people will have to navigate with their suitcases and trolleys. On leaving what would be the new build into the old terminal facility passengers will still be required to walk to the centre of the current terminal building before exiting without the construction of a new exit from the terminal. The terminal slopes away from top of the straight section built in the 80's so a new exit would need to be at the top end.

I'm concerned passengers will have a long walk with baggage before they exit the building. The total distance on entering the new facility to leaving the terminal will be the equivalent to at least nine stands and this doesn't include the walk into the terminal if transport isn't provided.



So that's my two penn'orth. I know some people will just be glad of anything but the architects have a real chance to plan the interior well in a way that is fit for purpose. It's no good having another add-on terminal extension we all just want see rid in another two years time. Something nobody else has picked up on but the CSZ area will need to be moved before the new arrivals meet and great can be opened so I can't imagine how on earth they propose to do that.

 

Well frankly, considering the architects have past experience of designing airport facilities, and the LBA management have many years experience of running airports, I would be amazed if they haven't considered everything when designing this terminal building. If it wasn't going to be right, I am sure they wouldn't have designed it that way. The airport have set up an entire design team, with all interested parties having their input into this. As for the carousels, there may only be 3 but they are considerably bigger than those we have now, so effectively have the same capacity as 6 of what we have now.

 

Well frankly, considering the architects have past experience of designing airport facilities, and the LBA management have many years experience of running airports, I would be amazed if they haven't considered everything when designing this terminal building. If it wasn't going to be right, I am sure they wouldn't have designed it that way. The airport have set up an entire design team, with all interested parties having their input into this. As for the carousels, there may only be 3 but they are considerably bigger than those we have now, so effectively have the same capacity as 6 of what we have now.

@White Heather I'm not asking anybody to agree with me, I'm just voicing my concerns and although I no longer work at the airport I have sufficient knowledge about how a terminal works and more importantly how LBA works to justify my reasoning. It's not for me to comment on who has what experience in the LBA management but I consider my opinion every bit as valid as theirs is. Obviously any additional new space can only be welcomed but I've pointed out the parts I believe the flying public will flag later. You are forewarned.

 

I have made a formal observation to the airport about the size and number of lifts. There is a need for hospital size lifts, yet my reading of the plans (I could be wrong) is that the lifts are the same size as present.
Walking distance does not seem to come in to consideration when an extension undertaken, Malaga is a prime example, the new walk way has to be at least 4 times that planned at LBA and is 3 times the old route. As special assistance passengers we are taken the old route so its still available.
I am told long walkways reduce bottlenecks and allow people to join the walkway easier and spread out so they dont all arrive at the exit door at the same time. In addition in the case of an emergency you have to have a number of other exit points, this is only possible if you have enough distance to play with.

 

I would think that, no matter what anyone does with any airport terminal, there will be much that people are unhappy with. The very nature of an airport means that the bigger it gets, the further it is to walk for passengers. It is a question of getting a design that ticks most of the boxes. Unfortunately it is a fact of life that when you add extensions to an existing and inadequate building, some of the negatives of the old part of the building impact on the new. The design is always compromised in some way.

 

I would think that, no matter what anyone does with any airport terminal, there will be much that people are unhappy with. The very nature of an airport means that the bigger it gets, the further it is to walk for passengers. It is a question of getting a design that ticks most of the boxes. Unfortunately it is a fact of life that when you add extensions to an existing and inadequate building, some of the negatives of the old part of the building impact on the new. The design is always compromised in some way.

True to some extent but the airport has a unique opportunity here, they have a blank canvas. If the plans are thought through correctly (as if they are a passenger) they will deliver. If they don''t they will have to correct it later, spending far more money in the long run.

 

I too think it looks a fair walk along the proposed corridor back to the existing terminal. Wouldn't it be possible to keep the original design as well? That way you could exit down the steps if you wanted to, and perhaps make your way down to the car parks. Or you could enter the corridor if you wanted to get to the terminal front for buses and taxis.

 

OK so here's what I have come up with, and with exactly the same floor space.

So from the point of entry into the arrivals area passengers can see all the carousels, they can see the exit and they can walk in a straight line without the need to go around corners with luggage and trolleys. Passengers arriving through immigration will no longer cross close by the path of passengers leaving the arrivals facility through the alternative customs area. There's no requirement for passengers to go back on themselves.

 

Get it sent to the airport!

 

The fact there are so many different ideas on here just shows how difficult it is to design a new terminal to please everyone. Design, whether it be an aircraft or a terminal building is always a compromise between competing requirements, not least of which is the amount of brass available!

 

Aviador..your idea is far too sensible to ever be considered!! I am sure they will also not think about putting a big land-side cafe on the top of it so that families/meeters & greeters/spotters can come and spend exorbitant amounts of money on drinks and meals (and car parking)!!

 

Well I am fairly sure that the planning application relates to the exterior/appearance of the building, not how it is organised inside, so that side of things can be changed. However, once the design has been through Fire Control etc., or has been included in the contract with the construction company, it is unlikely to be changed as doing so costs a fortune. So as said above, there isn't much to be gained by having these views and suggestions and only posting them on here. Send them to the airport and/or the architects and be heard! I made comments regarding the open ramp - comments which were first made on here by you guys - and look what happened. It disappeared. Now it seems that the alternative isn't good either. Perhaps they should have just done what I suggested to the architect - which was to keep the exit where it was and simply extend the fabric of the building so that the ramp was internal rather than external and under a shelter that left it exposed to the elements. They could easily have had the alternative exit further up the terminal too so there were two ways out.

With regard to your alternative plan Aviador, it appears to provide considerably less queuing area for Immigration, which sadly, is very much needed these days. The immigration queue is also clearly used as a means to control the numbers of people accessing the baggage carousels (almost like a holding zone) and I have little doubt it will be the same with the new terminal.

There is another consultative meeting next month, and I have little doubt that the terminal will be on the agenda, so I will see what I can find out at the meeting and report back.

 

I see it's all on the YEP website today.

 

Everything that's wrong with media coverage in Leeds. They don't seek news, they wait for it to come to them in the form of a press release then copy and paste it. No analysis or critique. We've been discussing and critiquing here for days and the local paper has presented it as news in the words of the airport. We need a proper investigative media!