Multi-million pound contract awarded by Gloucestershire Airport

A major contract which is part of a £15 million investment in its runways has been awarded by Gloucestershire Airport, promising to make 2022 a ‘transformational’ year for the business.

By Andrew Merrell | Published Wednesday 22 December 2021

Karen Taylor, managing director of Gloucestershire Airport. Runway refurbishment together with a new business park promise to make 2022 a transformational year for the airport. — Karen Taylor, managing director of Gloucestershire Airport. Runway refurbishment together with a new business park promise to make 2022 a ‘transformational’ year for the airport.

A team that has worked on everything from RAF airbases to Gulfstream hangars, from Gatwick to Wembley Stadium, has been chosen to re-surface the runways at Gloucestershire Airport.

VolkerFitzpatrick is expected to begin work in January 2022 to deliver the Civil Aviation Authority (CCA) approved upgrade to the airport, with work expected to be completed by the summer.

It will bring to an end speculation over who will carry out the work for the Staverton business, which revealed it had won £15m from joint shareholders Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council for the upgrades in December 2020.

It is understood the contract with VolkerFitzpatrick is worth £8.1 million.

The Hertfordshire business will work alongside Ridge & Partners LLP on the project, which is also working on the University of Gloucestershire’s planned renovation and repurposing of Gloucester’s former Debenham’s building.

Kevin Berry, operations director for VolkerFitzpatrick, said: ‘We’re well versed in working on projects like this, having completed similar works at Glasgow, Birmingham and Gatwick Airports.

‘These upgrades will place Gloucestershire Airport firmly at the top end of aviation standards and technology, which will help unlock numerous opportunities and benefits for the airport and surrounding area.’

Karen Taylor, Gloucestershire Airport managing director, said: ‘These are transformational times for Gloucestershire Airport.

‘These upgrades are essential to the continued smooth running of operations and, along with CGX Connect, will really elevate the quality and status of the airport, along with its profile as a ‘gateway for growth’ for all those significant developments being brought forward across the region.’

CGX Connect will be the site’s new business park.

Two runways will be kept open throughout the project, allowing the airport to remain operational.

By Andrew Merrell

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