Could there be an airport at the end of Southend Pier?

An enterprising “architect” has proposed solving the country’s aviation crisis by building a new four-runway airport – at the end of Southend Pier. The tongue-in-cheek idea, which has been posted online, envisages “London-Southend Pier International” catering for 150 million passengers a year.  Its inventor, Make It Architects, said:they believe it to be the world’s first pier-based international airport. “We believe this revolutionary solution to the UK’s aviation capacity issue could become a blueprint for airport expansion across the country, and are already drawing up a proposal for Blackpool, or Blackpool-London North International Airport as it will be renamed.” Make It Architects proposes extending the pier’s single-line train service – which has a maximum speed of a few miles an hour – to connect it with the new hub. They claim a new, high-speed monorail could also be built to whisk passengers to St Pancras in fewer than 20 minutes – while Adventure Island would become the world’s first theme park departure lounge.



 

6th November 2012 (Southend Echo)

in Local News

How the new airport might look...
How the new airport might look…

It could be the compromise everyone has been looking for, or a scene from one of London mayor Boris Johnson’s more whacky daydreams.

An enterprising “architect” has proposed solving the country’s aviation crisis by building a new four-runway airport – at the end of Southend Pier.

The tongue-in-cheek idea, which has been posted online, envisages “London-Southend Pier International” catering for 150million passengers a year.

Its inventor, Make It Architects, said: “As the Government delays the decision on whether to increase airport capacity in south east England until 2015, Make It Architects has proposed the development of a four-runway airport at the end of Southend Pier, in what we believe to be the world’s first pier-based international airport.

“We believe this revolutionary solution to the UK’s aviation capacity issue could become a blueprint for airport expansion across the country, and are already drawing up a proposal for Blackpool, or Blackpool-London North International Airport as it will be renamed.”

Debate over the future of the country’s aviation industry is raging in the halls of Westminster, with the Government apparently divided over whether to build a third runway at Heathrow or follow the advice of Mr Johnson and create a new hub in the Thames estuary.

Make It Architects proposes solving theSouthend Airport conundrum by renaming it London Southend North and extending the pier’s single-line train service – which has a maximum speed of a few miles an hour – to connect it with the new hub.

It claims a new, high-speed monorail could also be built to whisk passengers to St Pancras in fewer than 20 minutes – while Adventure Island would become the world’s first theme park departure lounge.

The architect said: “This radical design will build on Southend’s strong aviation history and rejuvenate the seaside town, bringing much need capital investment to the region.”

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/10024144.Could_there_be_an_airport_at_the_end_of_Southend_Pier_/

 

This is presumably not intended as a serious proposal … but it is difficult to tell which are real and which are practical jokes nowadays …

.


.

 

Other lunacies are:

 

–  Policy Exchange plan for 4 runways at Heathrow.  https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=332  or same article suggests 4 runways at Luton

– Steve Norris suggests 4 runways at Stansted, and/or a rail link to Heathrow to make a joint hub  http://www.iaindale.com/posts/stansted-should-be-the-new-hub-airport

– Philip Hammond is enthusiastic about linking Heathrow and Gatwick to make “Heathwick”

– plans for Cardiff to become a hub airport, and Heathrow’s “sixth terminal”  https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=3562

– is Southend pier airport any more bonkers than its fellow proposals?