FEATURE
Facility – Willis’ s new twin-bay hangar.
REACH FOR THE STARS
New hangars signal success for Teesside Airport businesses
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burst of activity has seen major national and international companies announce huge expansions at Teesside Airport – once again proving it’ s a fantastic opportunity for business investment.
A £ 12.5m package of support to unlock infrastructure and jobs, agreed by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority cabinet earlier this year, was vital to securing more private sector investment from airport tenants.
This has now been realised, with Willis Lease Finance Corporation officially opening its second hangar at Teesside. The company, a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and global provider of aviation services, has launched its £ 13.5m twin-bay facility to service Boeing 737 and Airbus A320-family aircraft.
Just a week later it was also revealed the firm, and its subsidiary Willis Aviation Services, had signed a 250-year lease agreement for 50 acres of airport land to drive further growth at its base – with hundreds of highly skilled jobs expected to be created.
It paves the way for the creation of up to six new narrow and wide-body hangars across the airport estate, including five at a new Aviation Village on land west of the airport.
Aircraft – A Jet2 737 inside the new twin-bay. 22 | Tees Business
Its neighbour Airbourne Colours has also thrown open the doors to its second multimillion-pound facility. The rapid expansion of the aircraft painting firm will deliver up to 40 new jobs as it manages increased orders from the likes of Jet2 and Lufthansa. The 27,000-sq ft unit was completed on schedule and coincided with Airbourne Colours’ 15th anniversary.
Elsewhere, aviation and technology firm Draken, which supports RAF fighter training, secured a £ 173m Ministry of Defence contract earlier this year to cement its presence at Teesside until 2030 at the earliest.
These business expansions at the north of the airport sit alongside the underdevelopment south-side site. This is currently home to global car repair firm ABL 1Touch, which has taken occupation on the brand new 270-acre business park.
The principle behind the high-quality, 25,105-sq ft facility was to provide a loose-fit base build to the unit with a plug-and-play approach to meet individual requirements.
Business Park South is set within a key strategic aviation, logistics and manufacturing location with convenient direct access to the road network via a newly built multi-million-pound, mile-long link road off the A67.
In total, Teesside International Airport Business Park boasts 375 acres of developable land that could accommodate approximately 5.2m sq ft of flexible, scalable space.
It is also part of the Teesside Freeport – the UK’ s largest and most successful freeport – unlocking global markets and major international trade hubs.
As part of the Customs Zone, it means imports can enter the customs area without paying tariffs, with duty exception for reexports.
And as the home of the UK’ s Digital Trade Testbed, it is developing, deploying and measuring the impact of cuttingedge solutions to streamline international commerce.
A recent demonstration event showed policymakers, industry leaders and technology innovators how the test-bed is supporting the drive to seamless trade.
Teesside International Airport has ambitions to become the UK’ s first operationally net zero airport by 2030.
This includes self-sufficient electricity for the site, a hydrogen vehicle refuelling station and involvement in sustainable aviation fuel research – helping firms meet their clean energy ambitions.
No matter the type of business, Teesside Airport is the perfect location, as it continues to play a central role in Tees Valley’ s economic regeneration.
Together – from left, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, Airbourne Colours chief executive Steve Darbyshire and Teesside Airport managing director Phil Forster.
For further information on development opportunities and available property at Teesside Airport, contact commercial agents Colliers or AREA or visit teessidebusinesspark. com.