3 December 2010
Forecasts produced for Birmingham City Council by consultants Arup suggest that the planned extension of the Birmingham Airport runway and diversion of the A45 will create almost 3,400 new jobs and deliver a £631 million boost to the local economy. The two projects combined will trigger significant long-term economic and transport benefits, boosting the popularity of knowledge-based business parks around the M42 corridor.
Diverting the A45 Coventry Road to accommodate the runway extension is estimated to cost £32 million. Birmingham City Council is to contribute £15 million, with the rest of the cost likely to be shared by the airport and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority Centro. According to the report, if the runway extension is completed as well as the A45 diversion, 3,390 jobs are expected to be created or safeguarded for Birmingham residents and the economy will benefit by £631 million over the next 20 years.
http://www.uk-airport-news.info/birmingham-airport-news-031210.html