Midlands airport application still planned

Backers of a proposed €200 million international airport straddling the Offaly/Westmeath border have confirmed they are still on course to submit a planning application in the first half of this year, although they admitted the process was taking a little longer than expected. “It is difficult process to go through but we have support for it and we want to ensure we go about the project in the right way. I think it will be part of the recovery,†Tullamore-based architect, Patrick Little, who is leading the private initiative earmarked for the Tubber/Horseleap area, commented this week. “We are not going to bulldoze through this process, we want to do it right... It will be a catalyst for development in the region and the country,†he argued. Prior to lodging the official plans, the project backers are currently in the middle of consultation with public bodies and any Government departments with an interest in commenting on the development. Preparation of environmental studies and public consultation meetings are also due to take place locally over the next few months. The proposal, which the developers believe could create over 5,000 jobs, including 2,000 in the construction phase, entails a 6,000 square metre terminal building. The building will have the capacity for two million passengers, a 2.7 kilometre long and 60 metre wide runway with a capacity for nine million travellers. The Westmeath Independent recently saw an investor summary leaflet which claimed the airport was “a solid investment in critical infrastructure that will improve and enhance Ireland's ability to compete in the international markets. The initial risks are outweighed by the potential gains in such a significant developmentâ€. When asked about whether investors were being actively sought for the project in light of this, Mr Little replied that there were a number of investors on board for the first phase of the development. The planning process alone is estimated to cost €3 million, and while there is an opportunity for investors to get involved when planning permission is gained, there are already a number of firm commitments to funding once that is forthcoming. “It will be subject to planning to ensure the rest of the funding is in place and we are confident of achieving that at that stage,†the Tullamore-based businessman said. Their vision, according to the document, is to create a new international cargo and passenger airport as an anchor to an international multimodal logistics and distribution hub. The facility will help lower costs and improve competitiveness in the country. A development campus of 800 acres will be developed adjacent to the airport to act as a manufacturing, logistics and distribution hub for the country, backers claim in the investment leaflet. “There is interest from a number of international carriers in the facility. There is also interest from other manufacturing and leisure companies in locating within the development area.†Backers state in the planning documents that the airport is to act as a reliever airport for Dublin and they expect it to reach two million passengers per annum by 2020, pointing out that there is also potential for cargo business of 50,000 tonnes per year. It is hoped if planning permission is forthcoming that work would begin on the project by the end of 2011 and have it operational by the end of 2013 if they aren't any delays.