Coventry Airport has announced that up to 600 new jobs and a wealth of fresh investment into the local community could be created by an initiative to redevelop abandoned former passenger facilities on the site’s South side.
As part of its strategy to improve investment and job opportunities for the community it serves, the airport has agreed to sell to Ostrava Property, a newly-formed company within the Rigby Group specialist property investment division, approximately 30 acres of land in order to enable the creation of a modern manufacturing and distribution hub.
The land – currently covered in concrete and housing the former temporary passenger waiting area for Thomson’s discontinued routes out of Coventry – has been unused for over seven years.
Freeholder Coventry City Council has been kept informed of the plans which will provide revived economic purpose for a site currently used only for aircraft parking.
In addition to creating new job opportunities, it will also enable Coventry’s management team to upgrade the airport’s existing facilities in line with its established business strategy
The last passenger flight to use the site was in November 2008, two years before Coventry’s acquisition by owners Rigby Group. Now, Ostrava Property plans to turn the defunct land into an economic asset for Coventry and Warwickshire.
Peter Burns, president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Coventry Airport Consultative Committee, said: “We welcome this news. There is no question that Coventry Airport is a considerable economic asset which brings investment and employment to the area, and this proposed development is another example of that.
“This part of the site has been largely redundant since the ceasing of passenger flights and with the airport developing in a different direction, it makes total sense to bring that area back to economic life.”
Andrew Cox, of Ostrava Property, formed to successfully deliver this project, commented: “It’s a win-win situation. While we focus on building a first-rate business hub to serve the business community, the airport will be investing in significantly improved premises close to the airport’s Jet Centre, increasing the throughput of executive passengers and making the area even more attractive to outside businesses and investors.”
Cllr Kevin Maton, Coventry City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Employment, said: “Our recent success in attracting manufacturing and business here means we’ve a real and urgent need for employment land in Coventry, so this is good news for jobs and growth for the city.”
Rob Sweeney, of Coventry Airport, said: “With the closure of the passenger terminal and associated buildings on the south side of the airport at Middlemarch the land is redundant for aviation purposes and disposal of that as a site for commercial development will make a significant contribution towards the airport’s future investment and financial strength.
“The South side upgrade will effectively revive part of the site which has not been in use for many years, replacing concrete with modern business spaces built to match the local area’s aspirations. Repurposing the land occupied by the defunct old terminals to deliver an asset for the local economy will also enable us to focus on improving facilities in line with Coventry’s strategy of becoming the international hub of choice for corporate and aviation, and an ideally placed site for hot basing.”