The
Development Planning Unit
Government of the British Virgin Islands

Feasibility Studies and Consultancies

Undertaking a project of this magnitude requires a number of planning ,economic, financial and environmental studies at the opportunity, pre-feasibility and feasibility levels before physical progress becomes apparent. It therefore is likely that a number of different consultants would have to be engaged and their activities would have to be co-ordinated.

Feasibility studies of various levels began as far back as 1985 in the Development Planning Unit and are still continuing today (the airport management).

The first opportunity study was executed by the Development Planning Unit in 1985. This study was sought to determine if there was an economic case for a new airport terminal building. It also identified sources of financing and took about 6 months to complete. This study was quickly followed up with a study by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Economic Affairs Secretariat (EAS) given that the European Development Fund (EDF) regional pool of resources had been identified as a financing source. This study was compliments of the OECS.

Once two OECS countries agreed to the allocation of about 5.0 mecu for the project, Plesseys Airports undertook a study at their own expense to provide for a new terminal building and a small extension to the runway. As the Plesseys Airport study was not a detailed one and ideas about a jet airport begun to be concretized, the United kingdom government sponsored a small study by Sir. Alexander Gibb & Partners. By now a firm decision had been made to extend the runway to accommodate jet.

Upon successful application for the EDF grant the Greek consultant DESIGN, SA was engaged to undertake architectural- engineering designs of the airport terminal building with related parking for aircrafts and cars. Within about two years this design was completed and a loan of $5.0 mecu was officially sought from the European Investment Bank. The technical advisers to the EIB rejected the design on the basis that there was no master plan for the airport.

The EIB then, at their own expense and in consultation with the Government of the BVI, engaged the services of the Dutch firm Netherlands Airports Consultants (NACO) to prepare a master plan Beef Island airport for the next 20 years. The completed master plan identified the optimal length of the runway, the various phases of development and parcels of land required for the future. From this master plan government decided that the runway would not exceed 5,000ft and agreed on two major phases of development; namely 1A which is the terminal building, landside infrastructure and airside infrastructure and phase 1B, the extension of the runway to 5,000ft to accommodate small jet as well as to provide for safer operations.

The Dutch consultants were further engaged in a major way to undertake full architectural-engineering designs of the airside, landside and terminal building. Including public consultations, this exercise took about two years with approval by the financial agencies EDF and EIB. The study produces a building more than four times the existing building with a parking space of 250,000 meters for aircrafts and space to park more than 300 vehicles in total. In addition, this master plan identifies the areas for all utilities, fuel, cargo handling facilities and other aviation related facilities including a relocated and upgrading control tower together with civil aviation admission

For yet another consultancy, NACO was engaged to execute the feasibility study for the extension of the runway. These consultants were chosen to ensure consistency of design quality and continuity of liability across the design of all airport functions. In fact NACO has worked on more than 200 airports world-wide including some of the largest and busiest in the world. The phase 1B detailed designs have been recently completed and tenders are expected soon. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has already approved a loan of approximately $15.0 million making it the major funding source.

The Environment Impact Statement (EIS) and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) have been completed by VI Marine Advisors Inc. and Scott-Wilson of the United Kingdom, respectively. Both the EIS and EIA were financed by the UK Government. As well both studies were used by the NACO consultants in the design of the marine works.

The final consultancy on management of the new facility is out to tender and it is expected to advise on the appropriate structure for management of assets worth more than $100 million ultimately.

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This page was last updated on: Monday, 21st November 2005