BAA signs £1.2m design deal for seven UK airports

Airport operator BAA has appointed two design groups and an architectural practice as framework consultants to provide retail space planning and design services, in a deal worth £1.2m.

Fitch, The Design Solution and architect Chapman Taylor have all signed three-year contracts and are expected to benefit from a combined annual income of approximately £400 000. They will work on BAA’s seven UK airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton.

The Design Solution has worked on several airports, both in the UK and North America, during the past nine years. It is currently undertaking work on Bristol International Airport’s new terminal and the international departure lounge at Gatwick’s north terminal.

The Design Solution director Robbie Gill is “delighted” about the appointment. “It’s a very exciting period in the development of airport design. We are looking forward to working with one of the world’s best airport operators to bring about innovation over the coming years,” he says.

Fitch director Sara O’Rorke believes the framework will provide competition. “Fitch will be competing against the other two groups, which will keep us on our toes,” she explains.

“The changes in duty free are exciting – airports will have to make retail environments more enjoyable,” she adds.