Proposed terminal expansion
Pretty pictures but a bit light on detail because they say detailed plans are still being worked up.
Seems the master plan proposals which were published following the 'wide-ranging consultation' of the draft master plan may have been altered again.
There is now no mention of a hotel or multi-storey car parks for instance but as I said the narrative that accompanies the pictures is generalised.
What does seem clear is that there will be a further significant delay before any planning applications are submitted. The airport is now saying that when detailed plans are drawn up they will consult again before submitting them to the planning authorities, so in other words the airport seems to have gone back to the drawing board and will publish in effect a new draft master plan to be commented on.
The original master plan time scale talked about planning submissions in the spring of 2006. This slipped and slipped again for various reasons but the airport had hinted strongly they would be submitted late this year.
It now looks as though we shall be well into 2009 before the plans are submitted to the local authority.
Factor in a likely public enquiry and it is difficult to see that, if they are finally approved, any construction can begin until late 2010/2011 at the earliest.
The anticipated reduction in passenger numbers this winter and possibly next summer will give some breathing space but if the economy picks up over the next two or three years we could see 7-8 mppa before any work commences.
Now that would give the airport senior management a major headache at peak times in terms of overcrowding in the departure areas.
However, if this is what it takes, and I have no doubt it is, to develop the airport into a facility that will take the Bristol region forward well into the 21st Century in the face of a pack of objectors with their own agendas then everyone - airport, airlines, staff and passengers - may have to bear some short term pain in trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot.