Article from BTNews 23 JULY 2018
Heathrow partners move forward
The first stage of a search for “innovation partners”, an initiative launched by Heathrow to encourage fresh thinking around how the airport delivers the third-runway expansion project, was completed last week.
Heathrow is now entering the delivery phase of the project, with more than 80 potential innovation partners coming forward to vie for the opportunity to help deliver one of Europe’s largest privately-funded infrastructure projects.
Launching the search in April, the airport invited any UK business, entrepreneur or leader to share ideas on how to make the expansion more efficient, sustainable and affordable.
Heathrow then hosted a working session where the 100-plus interested parties in attendance could put questions to the expansion leadership team ahead of submitting their ideas.
Executive director for the expansion Emma Gilthorpe said: “With an overwhelming majority of cross-party MPs supporting the project, the team is focused on delivering our commitments and ensuring the project is implemented in the most responsible way.
“The response to our call for expressions of interest has been extremely positive and I am really excited to move to the next stage, where we will compile a long list from all the great ideas put forward.”
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David Starkie, United Kingdom
I hope they take on-board the idea first floated in BTN, of phasing R3. Build out to the edge of M25, create a safety zone to allow the workforce to get on with the complex, time- consuming bit over the M25, but open the first 2000m for short-haul. This would reduce project delivery risk and produce an earlier cash-flow to help to deliver stable aero charges. The short bit would have to operate in mix mode but impact could be moderated by restricting hours or aircraft type.