Edinburgh Airport expansion “masterplan” unveiled

Plans for Edinburgh Airport to be expanded over the next quarter of a century have been unveiled, and public consultation launched.

Edinburgh Airport have released plans to expand Scotland’s busiest airport over the next 25 years, with a public consultation launched by investment firm, Global Infrastructure Partners.

The airport’s consultation on its proposals is open for six weeks.

The “Masterplan” centres around the growth of operations on the ground, rather than routes or planned changes to flight paths above the capital.

The plans also include an enlarged terminal building, cargo storage facilities and an aircraft parking area, with proposals to scrap an existing contingency runway and continued “safeguarding” of land for a new second runway.

The document says: “This safeguarding is a long-term precaution only, as we believe that the future growth of the airport can be sustained by the current main runway only.”

There are also suggestions of a new road linking to the Gogar Roundabout, to improve access to the airport.

The consultation will cover plans from now until 2040. A more speculative plan has also been released which shows a plan going as far as 2050.Questions have been raised by Environment campaigners regarding the need for further expansion.

Over the last decade, the number of passengers travelling through Edinburgh Airport has increased by 20%, with passenger numbers expected to rise a further 18%, from 11.1 million last year to 13.1 million in 2020.

Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport Chief Executive, said: “At Edinburgh Airport our passenger numbers have grown more in the past three years than they did in the 10 years previous.

“We believe that this growth is good for Scotland.

“This masterplan document sets out how we think we’ll grow in the decades to come and we’re asking some questions around that.

“Your views are important in making sure that our thinking is correct and that it fits with wider plans.”

Director of Transform Scotland, Colin Howden, said: “Aviation is the most polluting form of transport and one that threatens Scotland’s ability to meet its climate change commitments.

“The aviation industry thinks it should be allowed to expand without restraint and without regard for Scotland’s international commitments, instead expecting that other parts of the economy should bear the responsibility for cutting emissions while its growth is allowed to continue unfettered.”

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