Argent Related’s Brent Cross Town to get flying taxis
Argent Related’s Brent Cross Town development is set to get a flying taxi service, after the developer signed a memorandum of understanding with air mobility company Skyports.
The developer of the £7bn mixed-use regeneration scheme in north London has signed up to get a so-called vertiport – a take-off and landing spot for the aircraft – with an interim facility to be built as early as 2024.
Skyports, which specialises in infrastructure projects tailored to the advanced air mobility industry, will build the port, with a view to eventually installing a permanent site.
Argent Related’s Brent Cross Town development is set to get a flying taxi service, after the developer signed a memorandum of understanding with air mobility company Skyports.
The developer of the £7bn mixed-use regeneration scheme in north London has signed up to get a so-called vertiport – a take-off and landing spot for the aircraft – with an interim facility to be built as early as 2024.
Skyports, which specialises in infrastructure projects tailored to the advanced air mobility industry, will build the port, with a view to eventually installing a permanent site.
Argent Related is in the early stages of building Brent Cross Town, NW2, with initial work started on the 180-acre development. Eventually it will provide 6,700 homes, offices for more than 25,000 workers and 50 acres of parks and public realm.
André Gibbs, partner at Argent Related, said: “We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Skyports to provide a vertiport at Brent Cross Town, which demonstrates our approach to future-proof transport infrastructure.
“The vertiport would strengthen transport connections into and out of central London and would complement the new train station, the existing Tube links, comprehensive road connectivity and cycleways.”
Although most experts agree that mass urban air travel remains some years away, work is already under way to engage with Transport for London, the UK Civil Aviation Authority and other regulators to develop routes over the coming years.
Meanwhile, companies such as DHL and Amazon have spent several years working on drone delivery solutions to supplement traditional modes of transport.
Duncan Walker, chief executive of Skyports, said: “The very fact that vertiports are being planned for construction in mixed-use neighbourhoods such as Brent Cross Town demonstrates the direction in which the industry is moving and the increasing confidence in its success.”
It also comes as developers continue building a new railway station at Brent Cross Town, which will provide direct trains to and from St Pancras. The station is set for completion by the end of 2022.
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Image © Skyports and Volocopter
