Horseleap airport plans still on table

The plans for an airport at Horseleap are progressing, according to the backers of the project, who hope to be in a position to announce news regarding the project by the end of the summer. Tullamore-based architect Patrick Little who is leading the private initiative earmarked for the Tubber/Horseleap area said plans for the project are still progressing well and said hopefully they will have news that they can make public in the next month or month and a half. 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. Earlier this year Mr Little said 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. Their vision, according to a document aimed at investors, 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. 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 there aren't any delays. The airport, if it goes ahead, would be of benefit to the Chinese trading hub planned for the Creggan area. Speaking about the 'Chinatown' plans, Mr Little said: "I think it's a great initiative. If there's anything we can do to help them we will."