More work needed to finalise Alderney runway design
- Policy & Resources Committee is focused on ensuring a functional airport.
- The design phase is underway to comply with regulations and prepare for contractor engagement in 2026.
- Two costed proposals have been submitted and are under initial technical review.
- A policy letter will be presented to the States by the end of 2025.
- £460,000 spent so far this year on runway repairs
Policy & Resources Committee continues to prioritise the development of a functional airport on the island, it has said.
As part of this process, the design phase is currently in progress, which is vital for regulatory compliance and to prepare for contractor engagement anticipated to start in 2026.
Two costed proposals developed by Associated Asphalt and Ronez Ltd, submitted by Alderney's Policy & Finance Committee, have undergone an initial technical review.
While both are said to demonstrate a commitment to delivering the project cost-effectively and leveraging local capabilities, additional work is required to finalise the runway design.
This step is essential to ensure the final runway design can be licensed prior to engaging contractors for further evaluations.
A policy letter detailing the updates since the Assembly’s discussions in April 2025 will be submitted to the States before the end of the current year.
This letter will also recommend that the tender process be expedited.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Policy & Resources Committee, said: “The Policy & Resources Committee recognises the urgency of this project and its importance in maintaining public confidence in Alderney.
“The States of Alderney’s constructive input has been invaluable, particularly through its representative on the Project Board. We look forward to continued collaboration with Alderney to deliver the project as efficiently as possible, including looking at options such as joint funding, resulting in infrastructure that serves the Bailiwick’s interests.”
A contractor is currently working to a targeted repair scheme, which has involved cutting out failed asphalt sections of the runway and taxiway and reinstating them using specialist materials.
The total spent on repairs, the latest of which happened last week, is about £460,000 so far this year.
In April, the States direct the Policy & Resources Committee, working with the States' Trading Supervisory Board and the States of Alderney, to do some specific work and return to the States no later than December.
They were asked to:
a) To assess the feasibility, costs and timescales to extend the useable operational 'lifespan' of the current runway and airport infrastructure, including the existing control tower, fire station and terminal building, which may include pre-emptive patching work on the most critical parts of the runway and other airport pavement areas; and
b) To commission a report as expeditiously as possible in order to establish the lowest possible cost and most practical and pragmatic approach, for the delivery of a functional solution to maintain an operational aerodrome in Alderney into the future, focusing on the paved runway, with dimensions of up to 877m in length and 18m in width, or exceptionally 23m in width only if prior regulatory consultation shows that the current 18m regulatory alleviation cannot be maintained, and generally seeking regulatory alleviations where possible to minimise the amount of work needed, consistent with safety, and with consideration of any associated unavoidable work elsewhere on the airfield, all suitable for the operation of commercial air transport operations by readily available and conventionally-powered Code B aircraft, ideally with between 12 and 20 seats
The work was triggered after the original project exceeded the £24m. budget allocated to it.
Comments ()