LUTON -8
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Am I the only one who thinks it's unbelievable that they plan to build a multi-storey car park where the old EZY building is? Landing 08 with a north easterly is already a little interesting, but apparently the planners and CAA don't consider these things important when deliberating on the practicalities of building tall structures close to runways. Perish the thought that they might actually talk to some of the pilots based an an airport for some time to find out their views and concerns...
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Totally agreed, Have no idea who is planning out all these new buildings but nothing makes any sense.
I have also always never understood why they waste so much relevant open space with those car parks they have now instead of building upwards out of the way. Plenty of aircraft stands could be fitted in there.
I have also always never understood why they waste so much relevant open space with those car parks they have now instead of building upwards out of the way. Plenty of aircraft stands could be fitted in there.
Common sense, logic and Planners do not go together in the same sentence.
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The good news for Aluminium shuffler is that the multistory car park is part of the phase 3 plans due for completion in 2025. Initially the space will be used as a priority parking area.
The bad news for Aluminium shuffler is that when built the plan shows that the multistory car park comes within 10m of the south stands.
Part of phase one is a pedestrian footbridge that will eventually connect to the multistory car park but will initially connect the short term car park and priority car park and will end by the corner of the eastern apron after passing over the new drop off area and the entry and exit roads to the CTA.
Hope all those passengers have plenty of strength to push their trolly's up and down the footbridge ramp. The enclosed footbridge will follow a L shape course.
I heard the location of the multistory car park is governed by the fact that it needs to be close to the control tower so not to block the view of taxiway Delta and new taxiway Foxtrot.
The multistory car park will have 4 levels including the ground floor or 5 levels if cars can park on the roof.
The bad news for Aluminium shuffler is that when built the plan shows that the multistory car park comes within 10m of the south stands.
Part of phase one is a pedestrian footbridge that will eventually connect to the multistory car park but will initially connect the short term car park and priority car park and will end by the corner of the eastern apron after passing over the new drop off area and the entry and exit roads to the CTA.
Hope all those passengers have plenty of strength to push their trolly's up and down the footbridge ramp. The enclosed footbridge will follow a L shape course.
I heard the location of the multistory car park is governed by the fact that it needs to be close to the control tower so not to block the view of taxiway Delta and new taxiway Foxtrot.
The multistory car park will have 4 levels including the ground floor or 5 levels if cars can park on the roof.
Last edited by LTNman; 26th Aug 2014 at 04:46.
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Hello ericlday, do you have an occupation I can make a lazy, derogatory and sweeping generalisation about?
Do you honestly think that planners just sit there waiting for opportunities to develop completely inappropriate schemes?
Do you honestly think that planners just sit there waiting for opportunities to develop completely inappropriate schemes?
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There is a history of planners getting it wrong at Luton. The latest drop off area was a classic where arriving road traffic had to cross the path of departing traffic which caused massive tailbacks for a couple of years. While some here could see an answer by routing traffic so it didn't cross, the airport then introduced traffic lights which made no difference as traffic flow was still reduced by 50%. Eventually the problem was sorted out but I think it took 3 years.
Having closely scrutinizing the plans with my untrained eye the upgrade is tackling all the pinch points and improving the look of the terminal by building across the bus and coach station with a new floor to roof glass terminal entrance. Also the terminal is being filled in at the rear and the existing pier is also being filled in to make it wider.
The old terminal although still there will disappear from view due to the expansion and new cladding to match the new terminal.
The new bus station will have reversing buses which must be a health and safety concern.
Pink= New buildings. Yellow= Remarking of stands to squeeze more aircraft in. Blue = More concrete for taxiways and aprons. (note the east apron will increase from 6 stands to 8 by making it slightly wider)
The devil is in the detail like will covered walkways be provided from the drop off area and short term car park to the terminal entrance, as the drop off area starts by Taxiway Delta so involves quite a walk.
What is needed is a committee of PPruners to design the upgrade
Having closely scrutinizing the plans with my untrained eye the upgrade is tackling all the pinch points and improving the look of the terminal by building across the bus and coach station with a new floor to roof glass terminal entrance. Also the terminal is being filled in at the rear and the existing pier is also being filled in to make it wider.
The old terminal although still there will disappear from view due to the expansion and new cladding to match the new terminal.
The new bus station will have reversing buses which must be a health and safety concern.
Pink= New buildings. Yellow= Remarking of stands to squeeze more aircraft in. Blue = More concrete for taxiways and aprons. (note the east apron will increase from 6 stands to 8 by making it slightly wider)
The devil is in the detail like will covered walkways be provided from the drop off area and short term car park to the terminal entrance, as the drop off area starts by Taxiway Delta so involves quite a walk.
What is needed is a committee of PPruners to design the upgrade
Last edited by LTNman; 26th Aug 2014 at 06:25.
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It's arguably an improvement to how it is now. The biggest improvement I think for the whole thing is the enlarged and relocated security area to the ground floor and allowing for more retail space upstairs.
I think the plan LTNman posted above is a good use of the space but it just all looks a little bit crammed in. It's a huge benefit to the airport and a clear increase in capacity, but given the layout, location and relatively small footprint all this will be on, I can't see it being a particularly pleasant airport experience. I would like to be proved wrong.
Another potential problem I see is that a lot of the new stands will be remote stands and it's unfortunate that they can't really do much about that.
Likewise I fear the taxiway system is going to be "inadequate" at the best of times all along the West Apron curve as it looks to remain only a single taxiway (again, can't do much about it). Think of all the aircraft that will be pushing back and blocking the taxiway. Surely the "one way" system they use at peak times will become a more permanent thing even with Taxiway F there.
I wish the airport and everyone involved well for the future, but I can't help but think there is still one or two problems with this development.
I think the plan LTNman posted above is a good use of the space but it just all looks a little bit crammed in. It's a huge benefit to the airport and a clear increase in capacity, but given the layout, location and relatively small footprint all this will be on, I can't see it being a particularly pleasant airport experience. I would like to be proved wrong.
Another potential problem I see is that a lot of the new stands will be remote stands and it's unfortunate that they can't really do much about that.
Likewise I fear the taxiway system is going to be "inadequate" at the best of times all along the West Apron curve as it looks to remain only a single taxiway (again, can't do much about it). Think of all the aircraft that will be pushing back and blocking the taxiway. Surely the "one way" system they use at peak times will become a more permanent thing even with Taxiway F there.
I wish the airport and everyone involved well for the future, but I can't help but think there is still one or two problems with this development.
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LTNMAN,
Thanks for the diagram, although if the yellow shading are new stands, how will planes get in and out of the hangars on the left or are the hangars being demolished ?
Nigel
Thanks for the diagram, although if the yellow shading are new stands, how will planes get in and out of the hangars on the left or are the hangars being demolished ?
Nigel
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nigel osborne Nothing is changing on the hangar line apart from remarking the stands to create an extra one. TUI and Monarch will do what they do now and park arriving aircraft due in for maintenance on the hangar line and bus the passengers to the terminal. In the early mornings the stands will already be empty when aircraft need to come out of the hangars.
The council plan and not this one did show the new pier carrying on to the South Stands but you are right about remote stands as Luton will have 19 of them. It was going to be 23 but 4 have been lost to Ocean Sky 2 new aprons.
Walk on stands will increase from 20 to 25. Total stands excluding cargo and biz jets will be 44.
There was a plan drawn up in 2003 that shows an extra 18 stands, 6 in the short term car park and 12 to the east of taxiway delta. For this to happen the terminal would have to be expanded south and would occupy the new bus station that hasn't even been built yet. The multistory car park would become the drop off zone and priority parking area with the short term car park moving to the mid term car park. Option 2 would be to bite the bullet and build to the south of the runway.
Another potential problem I see is that a lot of the new stands will be remote stands and it's unfortunate that they can't really do much about that.
Walk on stands will increase from 20 to 25. Total stands excluding cargo and biz jets will be 44.
There was a plan drawn up in 2003 that shows an extra 18 stands, 6 in the short term car park and 12 to the east of taxiway delta. For this to happen the terminal would have to be expanded south and would occupy the new bus station that hasn't even been built yet. The multistory car park would become the drop off zone and priority parking area with the short term car park moving to the mid term car park. Option 2 would be to bite the bullet and build to the south of the runway.
Last edited by LTNman; 26th Aug 2014 at 15:49.
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It is interesting that when you look at the layout plan that the mid point on Taxiway delta/foxtrot does line up perfectly with the mid point of the short term car park .Given the location of the multi storey car park it will be fairly easy to extend the piers to the south stands and just relocate the short term car park in the future as per LTNmans first option.
That would in theory give them eight new stands in the short term car park apron and link straight to six on the south stands.
Still curious what signature will end up doing!
That would in theory give them eight new stands in the short term car park apron and link straight to six on the south stands.
Still curious what signature will end up doing!
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The greatest planning 'cock-up' was permitting the building of the Tinminal along a 'dead end'!
Whatever happened to the 'People Mover' that was to facilitate the cul-de-sac madness?
Whatever happened to the 'People Mover' that was to facilitate the cul-de-sac madness?
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The greatest planning 'cock-up' was permitting the building of the Tinminal along a 'dead end'!
Back in the old days the main apron only had one entrance which caused a bottleneck. Taxiway Echo was created to create separate entry and exit points to the main apron. Without it 24 existing and proposed stands on the main apron would share just entry and exit point not forgetting all the Biz jets that use Signature.
I can't see what two roads into the CTA would achieve apart from more local traffic using it as a short cut to get home. Anyway your wish might eventually come true as there is a plan to dig a tunnel under taxiway Delta and Foxtot just to the south of the drop off area to access a new employment area to the east of Wigmore Park. The road would continue on to the A505 halfway between Luton and Hitchin. I can't see it ever happening as the CTA would become part of a major route from the M1 to Hitchin and the A1
Whatever happened to the 'People Mover' that was to facilitate the cul-de-sac madness?
Last edited by LTNman; 26th Aug 2014 at 15:53.
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LTNman,
You are correct to state: 'there is a plan to dig a tunnel under taxiway Delta and Foxtot just to the south of the drop off area to access a new employment area to the east of Wigmore Park'. Do you think the airport leaseholder would accommodate such a stupid scenario set by LBC?
However has it occurred to anyone that the land to the east might be developed to house up to 20+ ac stands surrounding a satellite building linked to the current drop off area via travelator?
I only mention this because it was the one thing LLAOL did not disclose a recommendation 'in a public domain document'...
You are correct to state: 'there is a plan to dig a tunnel under taxiway Delta and Foxtot just to the south of the drop off area to access a new employment area to the east of Wigmore Park'. Do you think the airport leaseholder would accommodate such a stupid scenario set by LBC?
However has it occurred to anyone that the land to the east might be developed to house up to 20+ ac stands surrounding a satellite building linked to the current drop off area via travelator?
I only mention this because it was the one thing LLAOL did not disclose a recommendation 'in a public domain document'...
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Do you think the airport leaseholder would accommodate such a stupid scenario set by LBC?
Last edited by LTNman; 27th Aug 2014 at 10:43.
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Phase 1 of the redevelopment is due to start this January. Enabling work to allow phase 1 to start is due for completion in the next 4 months.
Work includes:
Tree removal between the mid term car park and the approach road
Demolition of Harrods old FPO and former Easyjet buildings.
Provision of a temporary arrivals hall in the currently fallow area in the Old Terminal Building, changes in access to the building, demolition of the current arrivals hall, preparation for the new security screening area and the relocation of security equipment, preparation and repair of dilapidations on the first floor, the erection of hoardings and other internal re-organisations.
The most interesting point here is the demolition of the current arrivals hall. Do they mean the whole shell of the building? The arrivals hall has looked awful since it was built. Glad to see it is going.
Work includes:
Tree removal between the mid term car park and the approach road
Demolition of Harrods old FPO and former Easyjet buildings.
Provision of a temporary arrivals hall in the currently fallow area in the Old Terminal Building, changes in access to the building, demolition of the current arrivals hall, preparation for the new security screening area and the relocation of security equipment, preparation and repair of dilapidations on the first floor, the erection of hoardings and other internal re-organisations.
The most interesting point here is the demolition of the current arrivals hall. Do they mean the whole shell of the building? The arrivals hall has looked awful since it was built. Glad to see it is going.
Last edited by LTNman; 28th Aug 2014 at 06:50.