A key 20-acre site directly in front of Terminal 2 will accommodate the first phase of a planned 70-acre business park aimed primarily at international high-tech companies involved in research and development as well as other service industries looking for ultra-modern offices.
The airport authority is currently in discussions with Fingal County Council on the preparation of a masterplan for the entire site, which is due to be published later this year.
This will facilitate the launch of the first stage of the business centre to be located in the area in front of Terminal 2 and extending to the land around the Aer Lingus head office. Commercial agent BNP Paribas Real Estate has been engaged to advise the airport authority on the development opportunities.
Extensive research by the DAA has convinced the authority to capitalise on the airport’s direct links with Europe (108 daily flights to London alone), North America and the Middle East.
The promoters are also convinced the airport campus can provide “the optimum working environment” in Dublin because of its information technology infrastructure, round-the-clock security, easy access to the main transport hubs, the wide range of fitness facilities, the choice of 31 restaurants, bars and coffee shops, and the fact there are 700 buses operating into and out of the airport on a daily basis.
DAA is also hoping to boost cargo traffic from Ireland to US markets by persuading the American authorities to introduce pre-customs clearance in Dublin in much the same way as it applies to passengers.
Ambitious plans
Another new strategy by the airport authority will see it supporting the development of the airline maintenance, repair and overhaul business through the establishment of an education and training centre in conjunction with the airlines and third-level institutions.
Hugh Madden, head of commercial revenue, said that in spite of the decision by the aircraft maintenance firm SR Technologies to pull out of the airport in 2009 with a loss of 1,100 jobs, the DAA had managed to relet all the hangar space, with two of the buildings going to Dublin Aerospace and Eirtech Aviation.
The more ambitious plans by the DAA to broaden its revenue base through the development of a top-of-the-range business park comes after Manchester and Schiphol (Amsterdam) airports also signalled their intention to open up their campuses to commercial property tenants wanting to avail of the wide range of support services.
Even though it owns no less than 2,500 acres around the airport, the DAA’s development strategy for the first phase 20-acre centre was made possible through the purchase of the Aer Lingus head office and the adjoining 10 acres.
Marketing campaign
The €22.15 million deal included a cash payment of €10.5 million and the provision of a range of services in lieu of further payments as well as promotional facilities in Terminal 2.
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