Planning approved for new London Aerospace and Technology College at Biggin Hill Airport

Richard Hopkinson Architects have received planning approval for the new London Aerospace and Technology College at Biggin Hill Airport in South East London. The project received unanimous support at committee.

The £11m project is a collaboration between LoCate and London South East Colleges, with £6.2m of funding provided by the GLA, and with support from large employers within the industry. It will provide a new 2100 sqm facility to train aerospace technicians in order to address the shortage of skilled labour in the aeronautical industries; it will include specialist workshops and a large, doubleheight ‘hangar’ space, which will provide the opportunity to work on large-scale aircraft components in real-world working conditions.

The project will redevelop an existing brownfield site which is subject to significant safeguarding constraints, due to its proximity to the airport runway. The design has been developed in response to this, providing a dynamic form which both signals the entrance to the building and reflects modern aeronautics. The college is intended to open in September 2020.

Louise Wolsey, Group Executive Director Strategy, Communications and Organisational Development, (LSEC) said:

”We are delighted with the exciting inspiring design by Richard Hopkinson Architects. This was a challenging site but we are working hard to move this project forward and look forward to watching the plans become reality.”