Christchurch Borough Council in the UK has approved a multi-million euro development of 42,000sqm of business premises on the Aviation Business Park at Bournemouth Airport.
The development plans cover 35-acres of Brownfield land, split across five separate plots on the western sector of the existing Aviation Business Park.
According to MAG Developments, the development arm of Manchester Airports Group (MAG) - the owner of Bournemouth Airport and the company behind the application - the plans will secure the long term future of the site, with the creation of a 10-year development programme for business space, predominantly warehousing, industrial premises, hangar space and office space.
Paul Hadfield, a spokesman for MAG, said: "Despite the global economic uncertainties, we believe that demand still exists in the marketplace and we feel that having a more established planning strategy in place gives us the certainty, scope and flexibility to respond quickly to new opportunities, especially when the upturn in the economy arrives."
Serving the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch conurbations, the Aviation Business Park currently supports more than 185 businesses and around 2,500 jobs.
It currently provides over 1.2million sqft of business premises and is home to a number of high profile companies and specialist aviation companies including Cobham, AIM Aviation, Meggitt, Siemens VAI, Honeywell and Babcock.
Hadfield added that occupancy levels at the park are currently at over 96%.
MAG Developments has invested €7million in the business park since 2009.
Furthermore, its existing investment properties at Bournemouth comprise offices, industrial units, hangars, workshop sites and ground leases, currently valued at around €47million.
John Atkins, managing director of MAG Developments, said: "We welcome the endorsement of the Planning Committee and the council's recognition of significance of this proposal and the long-term contribution it will make both to Christchurch and the wider Dorset economy.
"Following on from the Group's €52.5m investment in new airport facilities, plus ┬ú6m specifically in the business park; these plans provide a deliverable ten-year blueprint for new development opportunities at Aviation Business Park.
"We will continue to work with Local Authorities and key stakeholders to refine the proposals and ensure that we can take this opportunity forward and in doing so attract multiple-millions of pounds of new investment to the area and generate new employment opportunities for the region in the process."
