Stansted Airport architect works on Boris Island plans
02.08.11
Plans for a four-runway airport to replace Heathrow in the Thames estuary using power harnessed from tidal energy - the so called 'Boris Island' airports - have been drawn up by Lord Foster, the architect behind Stansted Airport’s terminal and the 'Gherkin' skyscraper. Lord Foster's firm Foster + Partners was also behind the design of Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport, which was created on reclaimed land.
The cost of the London hub plan is estimated at between £40 billion - £50 billion with design work involving Halcrow, the firm that provided planning and engineering services for Abu Dhabi, Toronto and Athens airports. As part of the plans, three-mile tidal barrage would be created made up of 1,000 submerged generators producing enough electricity to power the airport and 120,000 homes.
Lord Foster told the Times newspaper: ‘This move would greatly improve the quality of life for Londoners by reducing pollution and improving security. It would also allow London to compete with the rapidly expanding airports in Europe and the Middle East.’
Emirates president Tim Clark reportedly said a large part of the funding could come from selling land currently used by capacity constrained Heathrow, which operates with two runways. Although whether there would be demand for the land if the airport was to close is unclear.
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