Manchester Airport to erect symbol of expansion

The deadline date has arrived for architects to submit designs for a new air traffic control tower at Manchester Airport which airport spokespeople have described as "symbolic" of the growth of the travel hub.

The competition to construct the new tower, which has a dedicated budget of £8 million, set a deadline of August 24th for submissions.

At a height of 164 metres, the "high-quality, high-profile" tower will be visible far from its base at the airport complex which includes Terminals One and Three.

The visible improvement of the airport is just part of a £35 million project to improve the customer experience of passengers using the airport's services, with improved retail facilities, as well as more efficient security systems, in the pipeline.

Owners may hope focusing attention on Manchester Airport's development will quash calls from the MP for Altrincham and Sale West, Graham Brady, this week, for the travel hub, which is worth £3 billion, to be sold off to finance a Fund for Manchester dedicated to community projects.