What Is The £100M Terminal Upgrade At Leeds Bradford Airport?

Ever been to an airport and wondered what’s going on behind all those temporary walls and construction signs? Well, there’s a massive project happening right now at Leeds Bradford Airport, and it’s all about making the passenger experience a whole lot better. A huge £100 million is being invested in a major terminal upgrade, and a local Leeds engineering firm, Dudleys Consulting Engineers, is playing a big part in making it all happen. They’ve just been given a new brief to inspect some really important infrastructure, alongside the main construction works.

Keeping an eye on the sky

Before we even get to the shiny new shops and security halls, let's talk about something you probably never see but is super important: the radar masts. Think of these as the airport's eyes. At Leeds Bradford, these aren't just little poles; they're 30-foot tall structures that are absolutely essential for air traffic control. Their job is to keep track of every plane within a 40-nautical-mile bubble around the airport, up to 10,000 feet in the air. This powerful equipment is the backbone of the air traffic control system, making sure everything runs safely and smoothly.

Dudleys has been tasked with carrying out inspection works on this key infrastructure, including these vital radar masts. It’s their job to make sure these masts are in perfect condition to support the advanced systems that manage the airspace. It's a bit like a car's MOT, but for a massive piece of airport tech that keeps thousands of people safe every day. This new brief shows the level of trust the airport has in their engineering expertise. The works ensure that safety, which is always the number one priority, is maintained to the highest standard.

A long-standing friendship in Leeds

This isn't a new relationship. Actually, Dudleys and Leeds Bradford Airport go way back. For more than fifteen years, the engineering consultancy has been the go-to expert for all sorts of projects across the entire airport estate. This isn't just one building; it's everything from the runways where planes park (called airside aprons) to car parks, tunnels, and all the public buildings you walk through. They know this airport inside and out.

Having worked on the estate for so many years, they’ve built up a massive bank of knowledge about every corner of the site. This historical insight is a huge advantage for the current terminal upgrade. Since 2018, Dudleys has been specifically involved in supporting the design proposals for the new terminal extension, guiding it through all the official planning stages. This long-term involvement means they understand the unique challenges and opportunities of the existing buildings and the overall infrastructure.

Phase two: what’s changing inside the terminal?

The £100 million terminal upgrade is happening in stages, or phases. The first phase, which was the brand-new terminal building extension, is already up and running. Now, phase two of the works is underway, and this is where things get really interesting for passengers. This part of the project focuses on completely revamping the existing terminal buildings. The goal is to deliver a much more modern, open-plan space that feels less crowded and is easier to get around. The whole upgrade is designed to improve the customer journey from start to finish. So, what exactly will these works deliver?

• A brand new, state-of-the-art security hall to make that part of the journey quicker.
• A modern and welcoming new arrivals area.
• Big improvements to the check-in areas.
• Updated duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafes.
• And importantly, this will all lead to more space for aircraft stands.

This is more than just a cosmetic upgrade; it's a fundamental change to how the terminal functions. The aim is to create a seamless and enjoyable airport experience for everyone travelling from Leeds.

The challenge of mixing old and new buildings

It's one thing to build something from scratch on an empty field, but it’s a completely different ball game to refurbish and reconfigure existing buildings while the airport is still open. This is a major challenge that the engineering team from Dudleys is tackling head-on. The current terminal is made up of a series of buildings built in different decades, each with its own style and construction quirks. Imagine trying to connect a Lego house to a Duplo one – it’s tricky!

Andy Walker, the Managing Director at Dudleys, explained the situation perfectly. He said,

“We have been a trusted advisor to the LBA estate for many years and as such our historic knowledge and experience of the site has proved invaluable in helping LBA to deliver its exciting upgrades and maintain existing infrastructure.”

“The repurposing of existing buildings supports LBA’s important sustainability agenda, but the works are not without challenges. We are working with the design team to reconfigure a series of buildings of varying decades and build composition to provide a seamless, state of the art terminal with future proof qualities.”

Their strategic advice is helping to deliver all the new stuff, like staircases, lifts, and walkways, and making sure they connect perfectly with the new building from phase one. It's a massive, complex engineering puzzle.

Keeping the airport running alongside the upgrade

Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is that this entire terminal upgrade has to happen while the airport remains fully operational. Thousands of passengers pass through every single day, and the show must go on. The team has to deliver these major works in what they call a 'live' environment. This requires incredibly careful planning to keep disruption to a minimum. It’s like redecorating your living room while your family is trying to watch a film.

As Andy Walker noted,

“A critical part of the programme is the deliver these works in a ‘live’ environment to help minimise disruption to customers.”

This means that the engineering and construction teams are working cleverly behind the scenes, often in cordoned-off areas or during quieter hours, to push the project forward without getting in the way of holidaymakers and business travellers. It’s a delicate balancing act, but one that’s essential to completing this ambitious upgrade at Leeds Bradford. The next time you're at the airport, you'll know a bit more about the incredible works happening all around you.