Mixed-use developer Milligan and airport investor Ferrovial have formed a partnership to develop the UK’s first urban locations for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Milligan, engineering company Aecom and planning adviser Lichfields are developing a pipeline for the sites, known as “vertiports”.
As Ferrovial’s development partner, Milligan will identify potential sites and determine their viability for eVOTL urban air mobility. The size of potential sites ranges between 10,000 sq ft and 160,000 sq ft.
The partnership is in talks with local authorities, landowners and asset owners in locations where there will be likely passenger demand in the near future.
Milligan highlighted that urban air mobility infrastructure has the power to change the way people move between the UK’s towns and cities.
Milligan chief executive Stuart Harris said: “Between Milligan’s development expertise and Ferrovial’s long, successful history in developing and operating high-value, complex infrastructure in different sectors and geographies we have the skills and credibility to add some pace to the groundwork that is needed for this important new infrastructure.
“Ferrovial’s technical, innovation and sustainability credentials will add countless benefits to communities as UAM begins to transform the way we move and how our cities are connected. The technology is ready, so as towns and cities we need to be too.”
Brad Miller, UK managing director at Ferrovial Vertiports, said: “Freedom of movement is critical to global economic and social advancement. With a 70-year history of developing transportation infrastructure that helps communities flourish and grow, Ferrovial is proud to play a leading role in transforming the future of urban air mobility.
“Locations are identified with Ferrovial’s insightful, and data-led demand model and the team at Milligan is deploying its rich understanding of the UK’s property market in order to build a pipeline for the first vertiports.”
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