As pressure mounts to solve the UK’s aviation crisis, the Mayor of London has appointed Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) alongside a world-class team of aviation experts to develop plans for a new major airport in southeast England. The team is expected to resolve the debate on how and where the capital’s next multi-runway airport hub should be constructed, a decision that will play a critical role in the future of the British economy.
Zaha Hadid said: "This work is essential to deliver the most integrated transport solutions for London and the UK. It will enable London to maintain its position as one of the world's most important economic, commercial and cultural centers; outlining the city's future growth and development which has always been founded on global connectivity."
See who made the list after the break...
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "It is absolutely imperative that work to progress a new hub airport in the southeast is completed as soon as possible. The Government has set a timetable that dawdles when dash should be the order of the day. That is why I have assembled a mighty team of experts who I have tasked with delivering a fulsome examination of the most realistic solutions to our aviation crisis in the shortest time possible, which I look forward to sharing with the Government."
The Mayor has confirmed that the following organizations have all been engaged to help with work being prepared for submission to the Government:
Airport Design & Infrastructure:
- Atkins: One of the world’s leading design, engineering and project management consultancies. Projects they have worked on include the London 2012 Olympics, Bahrain World Trade Centre and the Dubai Metro. Atkins will also lead on consideration of surface access and environmental impacts.
- Zaha Hadid Architects: Zaha Hadid was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize (considered to be the Nobel Prize of architecture) in 2004 and is internationally renowned for her theoretical and academic work. Time Magazine included her in their 2010 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She has worked on globally celebrated projects such as the London 2012 Aquatics Centre and Guangzhou Opera House in China.
- Pascall & Watson architects: Previous projects include Heathrow Terminal 5, Dublin Airport Terminal 2, Rome Fiumicino Airport Masterplan. They also designed St Pancras International Station.
Socio Economic Impacts:
- Ramboll: a leading international engineering and management consultancy with a track record of examining the economic impact of airports and other infrastructure from around the world, supporting key developments in European air traffic control, working on the new Thames Crossing and developing National Policy Statements.
- Oxford Economics: a world leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis for business and government with unrivaled experience of exploring the economic impact of the aviation sector and airports for clients including IATA, ATAG, BAA and Airbus and developing economic forecasts and scenarios for London.
- York Aviation: a leading firm specializing in the assessment of the economic impacts of aviation and aviation demand planning.
- Professor Peter Tyler: Peter is a Professor in urban and regional economics in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge and Fellow at St. Catharine's College. Peter has an extensive track record in undertaking research for the public and private sector and an established reputation in the field of urban and regional economics with a particular emphasis on the evaluation of policy. He has been a Project Director for over seventy major research projects for Government.
Commercial Viability:
- Ernst and Young: a global leader in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services.
Legal and Regulatory:
- Ashurst: The leading global law firm, which specializes in advising corporates, financial institutions and governments. Their core businesses are in corporate, finance, energy, resources and infrastructure.
Mike Pearson, UK director of airports, Atkins said: "This project is not purely about the creation of a new hub airport, it's about forming the foundations for London's future development and reaffirming the UK's position as a key international centre. It will fundamentally shift the debate on UK aviation once and for all, providing both a convincing and compelling case for how international air connectivity is critical to underpinning the UK economy, as well as driving wider regeneration."
This topic that has drawn massive amounts of attention and a number of proposals over the last few years, from Norman Foster’s Thames Estuary to Beckett Rankine’s offshore proposal. It will be interesting to see what amounts from ZHA’s submission.
News via ZHA
