The Government has confirmed plans to invest up to £7.8 million
to improve Cornwall Airport Newquay’s facilities ahead of June’s
G7 Summit.
Wide-ranging infrastructure improvements to the airport will
ensure world leaders can arrive on Cornish soil to attend the G7
Summit
Investment would also assist to make the airport ready to be the
UK’s first space to launches satellites planned for next year.
In additional the Government announces that the G7 Summit will be
carbon neutral; offsetting any emissions and investing further in
environmental programmes in Cornwall
The investment will ensure the airport can safely welcome world
leaders into Cornwall for the G7 Summit in June and will have
lasting benefits, including supporting the airport to become one
of the UK’s first licensed spaceports.
Cornwall Airport Newquay currently plays an important role in the
Duchy’s local business and tourism economies, supporting 1,100
jobs and generating £62.7m GDP per year.
Improvement works will include strengthening existing taxiways
and aprons and extending apron areas and ground lighting. The
work will be carried out by local Cornish companies and will
leave a lasting legacy from the G7 for the Cornish economy.
These improvements will accommodate independent arrivals and
departures of larger aircraft, enabling them to manoeuvre and
park safely around the airport, and ensure facilities are
prepared to receive world leaders after they have touched down.
They will also then facilitate future use by the reusable
rocket-launching aircraft which will operate from the spaceport.
The project will also create new ‘airside development zones’ with
direct access to one of the longest runways in the UK, which will
provide space for local Cornish businesses to set up. The
investment in expanded infrastructure will offer new hangars,
increased aircraft maintenance facilities, and also help develop
future zero-emission aircraft; providing space for an electric
aircraft testing facility.
These investments are expected to generate wider lasting
benefits, such as supporting the airport’s transition to becoming
the UK’s first licensed spaceport, Cornwall Spaceport. The
spaceport is forecast to bring £200m to the Cornish economy by
2035. Arrangements will be in place shortly to award the funding
following discussion at today’s Council meeting.
The spaceport will also create 200 direct high-skilled jobs,
provide a platform for environmental research to use space
technologies to monitor and combat climate change, and offer
learning space to support local young people into science and
engineering careers, supporting engagement with every school in
Cornwall by 2022.
The airport and spaceport investment is one of the first G7
Summit legacy investments being announced by the UK Government,
with further plans due to be announced to maximise the long-term
benefits for Cornwall from hosting world leaders. These will
include supporting environmental and ecological projects in the
Duchy and showcasing its leading green research and innovation to
the world.
Commenting, St Austell and Newquay’s Member of Parliament
said:
“These improvements have been something I have been working hard
behind the scenes with the Government to secure and I am pleased
to see this announcement today, confirming millions more in
investment for Cornwall’s airport, helping us get better
connected and ensuring Cornwall Airport Newquay will shine when
the eyes of the world are on us in June.”
“These improvements are not just for the G7 though, and will be
an amazing legacy for Cornwall, helping pave the way for
Spaceport Cornwall and the investment and high paid jobs this
will bring to the area and assisting out airport to bounce back
from the pandemic.”
“This is more evidence from this Government that Cornwall is at
the forefront of the levelling up agenda and front of the queue
where it comes to building back better from COVID-19.”
Commenting, Secretary of State for Transport said:
“This significant funding package will ensure that the right
infrastructure is in place for us to welcome the world leaders to
UK soil this summer.”
“Looking beyond the immediate buzz generated by the G7 summit,
this investment will also drive local growth for years to come by
creating one of the UK’s first spaceports – helping us all
prosper as we look to Build Back Better and with greater
aspirations following the pandemic.”
