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Arora Group, the operator of Bloc Hotels along other brands such as Sofitel and Crowne Plaza, has confirmed it will submit a proposal to expand Heathrow Airport.
The news comes after the government invited bids for Heathrow’s expansion earlier this year after deciding not to give exclusive rights to the airport’s current operator.
The company, which also owns and manages airport hotels including the Sofitel at Terminal 5, has established Heathrow West Limited to deliver the project in partnership with US construction firm Bechtel.
The plan includes a new Terminal 6 to the west of Terminal 5 and a 2,800-metre runway, with completion targeted by 2035. Arora said the scheme would reduce disruption to residents, avoid building over the M25 and provide additional capacity at a lower cost than previous proposals.
Surinder Arora, founder and chairman of Arora Group, said: “I am very proud that the Arora Group can finally unveil to the UK government our Heathrow West proposal, which directly meets and supports the United Kingdom’s primary objective of unlocking economic growth at the UK’s only hub airport, with a strong commitment of doing so on-budget and on-time.
“The Heathrow West proposal delivers squarely on the Secretary of State’s and Chancellor’s ambition to obtain planning permission by the end of this Parliament, with a fully operational runway by 2035.”
Carlton Brown, chief executive of Heathrow West, said the new company would work closely with airlines, communities and businesses.
Brown added: “Ultimately, I want to see Heathrow help Britain become the best-connected nation in the world and facilitate the trade and inward investment our UK economy needs.”
Arora has expanded its hospitality arm steadily in recent years, with Bloc Hotels sites at Gatwick and Birmingham complementing its Heathrow developments. The company said its knowledge of passenger flow, hotel construction and long-term airport partnerships supported the government’s requirement for a cost-effective expansion.
