Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport operates every hour of every day throughout the year, welcoming around 6 million passengers per annum.

Perhaps the headline aspect of the multi-faceted development is a new security building to sit alongside the current terminal building. The UK Department for Transport had previously mandated that all major airports in the UK should install screening technology in their security facilities to eliminate the need for travellers to carry smaller capacity liquids and remove them, alongside electronic devices, when having their luggage checked. This new equipment at Belfast International will provide security staff with clear, three-dimensional images of luggage items and massively enhance operational efficiency, improving airport users' experience significantly in this regard. These facilities are due to be up and running by summer 2024.

The £100 million phased investment also includes the development of additional departure gates, passenger seating and new retail outlets, all to be completed by the end of the decade. The major refurbishment also modernises the airport's facade.

All of this innovation will be powered largely by clean energy from a new 26MW solar farm on the airport site, which stands to offset 12,500 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Issues Encountered

Gravis Planning were engaged by Belfast International Airport to provide planning advisory support and communications support for this major planning application. We ran a remote and online consultation for the application due to the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing restrictions. Plans were also displayed within the airport for users to view and provide feedback.

We subsequently prepared the planning application and ensured its progress through the planning system, providing advice on a range of planning-related issues.