Skyports, the world-leading owner and operator of vertiport infrastructure for the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brent Cross South Limited Partnership, a joint venture between Argent Related and Barnet Council, to develop a passenger air taxi vertiport at Brent Cross Town.
Brent Cross Town, a 180-acre development in north west London which is being regenerated as a new £7 billion mixed-use park town for the capital, was selected as a prospective location for the vertiport due to its outstanding connectivity into central London. A vertiport at Brent Cross Town will create the opportunity for electric passenger air taxi services between this and other Skyports vertiports in and around London and the rest of the UK.
Supported by Skyports’ investment and modular infrastructure design which enables rapid construction, an interim vertiport could be built at Brent Cross Town as early as 2024, with a permanent location constructed during the development phases of Brent Cross Town.
Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said: “This exciting project is a sign of huge progress within the industry. The very fact that vertiports are being planned for construction in mixed-use neighbourhoods such as Brent Cross Town demonstrates the direction in which the industry is moving and the increasing confidence in its success. Our in-house team of airport planners, regulatory experts, airspace experts, software and hardware developers remains completely focussed on vertiports which are safe, practical and in locations which will make a positive impact on daily life”.
André Gibbs, Partner at Argent Related said: “We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Skyports to provide a vertiport at Brent Cross Town and demonstrates our approach to future proof transport infrastructure. The vertiport would strengthen transport connections into and out of central London and would complement the new train station, the existing tube links, comprehensive road connectivity and cycleways.”
As specialists in the planning and construction of vertiport infrastructure, Skyports will work with Brent Cross Town to share market insights and developments in the AAM industry, undertake due diligence on the site and engage with external regulatory bodies such as the UK Civil Aviation Authority and local government to obtain relevant permissions.
The Brent Cross Town team together with Barnet Council will provide the essential local knowledge to allow plans to progress, as well as lead introductions with local stakeholders and contractors, and facilitate access to enable Skyports to undertake any preliminary investigative works
