Bristol Airport has appointed a new planning & sustainability director as it targets becoming among the UK’s first net zero airports by 2030 while also expanding to handle an extra 2m passengers a year.
Clare Hennessey, pictured, who previously worked for French energy giant EDF, joins the airport as work gets underway on its largest capital project for more than two decades – a £60m public transport interchange hub and multi-storey car park.
The project forms part of the airport’s overall multi-million pound development plan to increase its capacity from 10m to 12m passengers a year, pictured, and comes just four months after the High Court’s decision to dismiss a legal challenge from environmental protestors against the airport’s expansion, which will also involve expanding the terminal building.
The airport said Clare brought wide experience to her new role, having worked in a number of sectors and developments, including among others Hinkley Point C, London Crossrail, and the London Olympics which required a combination of planning and sustainability disciplines to progress and deliver long-term value to communities and customers.
At EDF Energy, she led the programme of planning and environmental consents required for the decommissioning of several nuclear power stations.
Her experience in the aviation sector includes providing strategic advice to Gatwick Airport and advice to the Department for Transport on the National Policy Statement for Airport Expansion in the South East.
At Bristol Airport she will play a key role in developing its future and will be responsible for shaping and implementing its planning and sustainability strategies.
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees, said: “We are delighted to welcome Clare to the team – she joins at an exceptionally exciting time.
“Clare will oversee the development of our masterplan, sustainability strategy and partnerships.
“Working closely with stakeholders to meet our ambitious sustainability targets – in being one of the first UK airports to be a net zero airport operation by 2030. Clare’s appointment will help us to build on the work already started, prioritising sustainability and responsible planning strategies for the future.”
Clare replaces Simon Earles, who was in the role for just over six years before leaving two months ago to join building and planning consultancy Turner & Townsend’s Bristol office as a director.
Clare said: “I am excited to join the Bristol Airport team and I understand the important role the airport plays in the region.
“It is a major tourism gateway, connecting the region for both business and leisure, and provides a wide range of business, tourism and job opportunities.
“I look forward to working with our stakeholders as we take forward the first of many transformational projects for the airport and masterplan for growth aligned with our sustainability goals.”
The project to develop a new public transport interchange hub and multi-storey car park at the airport has been described as “transformational” by airport bosses.
The development will also include a glazed bridge link between the car parks and terminal, new waiting area and rest facilities and an enlarged drop-off and pick-up area.
The airport has been involved in a number of trials and research projects over the past few years aimed at making it more sustainable.
These have ranged from using electric buses to transfer passengers to their planes to planting carbon-absorbing flowers and grass and launching its first solar farm
Last year an environmental initiative between the airport and easyJet – believed to be the first of its kind to slash emissions from equipment used to get passengers and baggage onto aircraft – won a ACI EUROPE Best Airport Award for Eco-Innovation.
The airport is also a member of Hydrogen South West, the partnership of leading businesses and innovators aiming to develop the UK’s leading zero-emission hydrogen infrastructure in the region.
