Jobs and Growth In Bournemouth As Airport Plans Move Forward

Bournemouth airport and its surrounding area is seeing a welcome spike in jobs creation as plans for a new high-tech business center and improved traffic routes around Bournemouth airport get underway.

In January of this year the government backed Bournemouth International Growth program (BIG) was announced. A spokesperson for AirportParkingco.uk tells us the project is a bold commitment to improve roads, cycle routes and bus services around the airport and to work alongside the wider Local Enterprise Program (LEP) to create the high-tech Aviation Business Center and build 350 new homes. The £40 million BIG program, working in conjunction with LEP is expected to provide up to 10,000 jobs to the area across the next decade and increase investment into the area.

Bournemouth airport has seen a steady rise in popularity over the past decade, in 2008 the Daily Telegraph ranked it as the ‘Best airport in the UK’ and the third best airport in World, quite a feat for what is considered one of the UK’s smaller airports. The airport saw heavy investment throughout 2007-2011 and it now boasts a new terminal building that is 62% bigger and produces 70% less carbon dioxide than the previous facility. Included in this investment was additional space on the airport apron that now extends to 11 stands with sufficient space to house wide body planes such as the Boeing 767-300 and a brand new car park facility at the airport’s south entrance.

Looking to capitalize on the popularity of Bournemouth airport and seeking investment into the area, work has just commenced on the ‘Aviation Business Center’ as commercial property developer Stoford secured funding for the 160,000ft development. Joint Managing Director of Stoford, Matt Burgin said this when speaking on the project:

“We are excited to unveil the plans for the facility at Aviation Business Park at Bournemouth Airport…The new development will bring a significant amount of investment to the south coast, providing new jobs and more opportunities for the surrounding area.”

The development is being funded by Global State Capital who bought 9-acres of land from MAG Property, the development arm of Manchester Airport Group who own Bournemouth airport, earlier this year. After submitting plans in January both MAG Property and Stoford were given the green light by Christchurch council to move forward with the project. Lynda Shillaw, CEO of MAG Property spoke glowingly about the project saying:

 “Aviation Business Park is emerging as a key employment location, supporting Christchurch and East Dorset’s Core Strategy…We are seeing healthy occupier and investor demand for manufacturing, logistics and aviation-related property at Bournemouth Airport and are delighted to be working with Stoford"

The entire project is set for completion in 2021 and the business park will offer 45,000sqft of office space and a 115,000sqft production unit. Alongside the government backed ‘BIG’ project to improve transport links around the airport, this cash injection into the business park is hoping to attract investment, new business and continual growth to Bournemouth, its airport and surrounding areas.