- Bristol Airport – one of the UK’s busiest regional airports – has submitted plans for expansion.
- Copper has been at the heart of supporting the Airport with its communications and engagement for proposals.
- Support has taken place in a complex stakeholder environment at a time of keen focus on airport development.
Bristol Airport’s proposals to expand its airport operations have officially been submitted for consideration to North Somerset Council. The Airport – the UK’s ninth largest and a critical regional airport for the South West – submitted proposals last week following a major pre-application consultation on the proposals, as well as the Airport’s Master Plan, back in late 2024 and early 2025.
Copper has been at the heart of helping to articulate the case for these over the past two years, supporting the Airport with its engagement and communications strategy and delivery for proposals.
The proposed expansions will provide significant benefits to Bristol and the wider South-West region – contributing around £3 billion to regional GVA), generating around 1,000 new on-site jobs and 36,000 through the supply chain. For customers, the proposals will allow passengers to fly to destinations including the east-coast of America and the Middle East, while increasing the number of passengers the Airport can manage every year.
Copper has helped the Airport with its strategic positioning ahead of the consultation and supported consultation events with a series of branded materials setting out the project need and benefits, and helping to foster constructive conversations with the public.
Our work on supporting the Airport to tell its story around proposed expansion fits into a longer-term story of support for Bristol Airport, having provided consultancy since 2018 around local engagement and communication.