Airport set to take-off with aviation boom

A Government report has suggested the airport, rarely used for commercial flights, could take up to 500,000 passengers a year.

However, airport manager John Haffenden believes the airport could only take half that number.

But it is recognised major changes will have to be made to equip the airport to help meet the demands on Britain's 10.2billion-a-year aviation industry.

The number of air passengers in the UK is expected to grow by five per cent a year over the next two decades.

Work is about to start on an ambitious plan aimed at renovating the airport's run-down buildings and overhauling the local transport infrastructure.

Ideas to revitalise the airport include a park-and-ride scheme linking Shoreham and Brighton, a new railway station and a new link road from the A27.

The runway could be increased from 1,000m to 1,500m, a derelict hangar could be refurbished and new commercial buildings provided to attract more firms to the airport.

Planning consultant Drivers Jonas has won a contract to create the regeneration plan in liaison with the airport's joint owners, Brighton and Hove City Council and Worthing Borough Council.

Opposition to any major expansion plans is expected from residents who live near the airport, as well as environmental groups.

Mr Haffenden believes the cost of regenerating the airport would be between 10million and 20million, depending on the consultants' recommendations. Their strategy will be drawn up by October following intensive consultation with residents and landowners.

Airport committee chairman Mike Middleton said: "The airport needs to cater for larger aircraft. That is where the money is. We have got as far as we can with the airport at its current capabilities. Now hopefully the consultants will help us take major steps forward over the next five years."