zaha hadid architects to develop plans for london’s new multi runway hub airport visualisation of zagreb airport competition proposal © zaha hadid architects

the mayor of london, boris johnson, has appointed zaha hadid architects to develop plans for a new multi runway hub airport in the southeast of the city in response to the nation’s aviation crisis.

the mayor would like to see a swift possible resolution to the debate of the multi runway hub airport’s location, in an effort to give the british economy the best chance to succeed against competition from its global rivals. zaha hadid architects was amongst a selection of organisations chosen to engage in preparations for the large-scale project, including UK-based engineers atkins and pascall+watson – the architects who designed terminal 5 at heathrow airport.

hadid said of the announcement:

‘this work is essential to deliver the most integrated transport solutions for London and the UK,’ said hadid. it will enable london to maintain its position as one of the world’s most important economic, commercial and cultural centres, outlining the city’s future growth and development, which has always been founded on global connectivity.’

the mayor said:

‘it is absolutely imperative that work to progress a new hub airport in the southeast is completed as soon as possible. the government has set a timetable that dawdles, when dash should be the order of the day. that is why I have assembled a mighty team of experts who I have tasked with delivering a fulsome examination of the most realistic solutions to our aviation crisis in the shortest time possible, which I look forward to sharing with the government.’

approximately 15 different proposals for the new airpor thave already been disclosed. a stringent criteria will allow for an evaluation of each proposition for a short list of options that is expected to be announced within weeks. the team now curated by the mayor will combine their expertise to generate comprehensive feasibility studies of the shortlisted possibilities that will subsequentlybe submitted to the davies commission. the two favoured options – apart from expanding heathrow – are a giant four-runway airport in the thames estuary or an expansion of stansted.

see the press release.