A major project intending to rebuild an ageing runway at Alderney Airport has been delayed following consultation with the States of Alderney. Construction work for the project is now expected to begin in 2028 instead of in 2027, its initially predicted start.
Delayed by a Year
Construction for a major project to rebuild the ageing runway at Alderney Airport (ACI) has been delayed by at least a year, with work currently not expected to begin until 2028.
The delay comes despite politicians approving up to £24m for the scheme in February, when the States of Guernsey had hoped work could start in 2027. However, the Policy and Resources Committee announced that further design work was required for the scheme after it received regulatory advice and feedback from the States of Alderney. This has delayed the start date for construction works by a year.
Initially, the planned schedule envisaged the invitation to tender being issued in March 2026, with the process completed by June. The committee explained, in a written response to questions from States Member Alexander Snowdon, that the additional design work needed to be completed before construction contracts could be put out to tender, delaying the process.
Officials have asserted that the revised plans would retain the runway’s existing width of 18 metres rather than complicating the project by increasing it to the regulatory standard of 23 metres, with the aim to secure significant savings. The committee emphasised that it is still working towards delivering the project within the current £24m delegated, finding solutions that work “for the collective financial benefit”. It highlighted that the budget must also cover a range of costs, including alternative transport and medical evacuation arrangements during construction, and must be allocated responsibly.
No Set Date
While officials have said they remain committed to carrying out the work as soon as practically possible at the lowest possible costs without compromising safety, no final completion date has been set. In a statement, the committee said that,
“No definitive timeline for the completion of the project can be provided until the contract has been awarded and early contractor engagement has commenced.”
Alderney States Member Alexander Snowdon, who forwarded questions to the committee in the first place following the announcement, described the delay as ‘very concerning’, arguing that the rebuild could not afford to be pushed back further as a “crucial” project for the island. He went on to comment,
“I didn’t think there would be this much of a delay when we had such a keen debate earlier in the year for delivery of the project for 2027. But unfortunately, we are where we are and it’s really important that we do not see further delays and that 2028 is locked in for this vital project.”
The island’s airport terminal was first built in 1968, meaning that, if all goes ahead, work will begin 60 years after the terminal first opened.
What do you think about the Alderney Airport project delay? Let us know in the comments.
