Anglesey Airport

"This is a great building to work in from an operator's perspective. It is constructed to high standards and is easy to maintain and very serviceable. We are very pleased with it."

The Requirement

A new airport terminal building was required for the first civilian airport on Anglesey in North Wales.

Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, Maes Awyr Môn/Anglesey Airport is owned by Isle of Anglesey County Council and operated on a day-to-day basis by airport operators, Operon.

The project is seen as a catalyst for regeneration in the area and is providing a significant boost for economic development for Anglesey and North West Wales.

The Solution

Yorkon was awarded the £1m contract to build the new purpose-designed airport terminal. Project managed by Turner & Townsend and designed by MAP Architects, the scheme was manufactured by Yorkon off site in York and craned into position as 10 steel-framed modules in just two days.

The single storey building was designed to minimise any impact on the environment, to provide an attractive new facility for the area and to be easily extended to meet the potential for future expansion, with minimal disruption to operations.

The new air terminal was completed only four months after start on site. It comprises: 

• baggage reclaim
• departures lounge
• check-in desks
• offices
• visitor information
• search and security facilities.

Yorkon also provided a 60-space car park, landscaping and fitting out.

The new commercial air services are now operated by Highland Airways, supported by the Welsh Assembly Government. Twice daily return flights during the week link Cardiff with Anglesey, making use of existing runways, control towers and fire service facilities at RAF Valley.

Comments from the Client and Project Team

Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport in Wales:

"This new facility will enhance what is already proving to be an effective and successful link between North and South Wales.  Maes Awyr Mon has already attracted over 5900 passengers - creating commercial and leisure opportunities and acting as a catalyst for the continued economic development of North West Wales.

Airports and air services have an important role to play within the framework of an integrated and sustainable transport system. Maes Awyr Môn was a significant development in the Welsh Assembly Government's support for effective communications."

Dewi Roberts, Principal Officer - Transportation, Anglesey Council:

"The new air terminal has exceeded our expectations. This is the first time this department has used off-site construction and we are impressed with the approach. The project was easy to manage and you would never know this is a modular building."

Chris Elmer, Terminal Manager at airport operators, Operon:

"This is a great building to work in from an operator's perspective. It is constructed to high standards and is easy to maintain and very serviceable. We are very pleased with it."

Martin Cross, Project Manager, Turner & Townsend:

"It was very important to have the new airport up and running as early as possible so flights between Cardiff and Anglesey could commence. By moving much of the work into a factory environment, we saved around two months on the programme compared to traditional site-based methods, with no compromise whatsoever on the quality of the finished building.

This more innovative approach also allowed us to minimise waste for disposal, and reduce the number of vehicle movements and disruption to the local community and the operation of RAF Valley, which were other key objectives for the project. Yorkon worked with us as a genuine, collaborative partner and delivered an attractive building with high quality finishes, on time, despite working in adverse conditions during the winter months."

Philip Cackett, Project Architect, MAP Architects:

"The materials we selected had to be sufficiently robust to cope with the harsh weather conditions and also to provide a warm and welcoming building for the public. Externally, the building is clad predominantly in smooth red-faced brickwork, with vertical timber cladding at the higher levels. Internally the building is light and airy, as well as highly durable."