The most competitive tender to redevelop Alderney airport has come in at £37 million, which means the project is on hold while more affordable options are looked at.
The original budget in December 2022 was £24.1 million, but the best tender is nearly more than half of that again, at £37 million.
Both Policy and Resources and STSB say at that price it's 'unviable and unaffordable.'
The cost is for lengthening the runway to take Aurigny's larger ATR72 aircraft, which in the medium term is seen as being a more cost efficient way to operate the loss making Alderney routes.
Policy and Resources is already talking in terms of a 'smaller scale and more affordable solution that meets safety requirements and provides resilience.' It is early days, but that sounds more like runway resurfacing, rather than lengthening.
The surface is more than 25 years old and is subject to regular repairs as cracks form.
The States of Alderney will be asked how much they can contribute to the runway and terminal rebuild, and discussions with them will be ongoing.
The project received full planning permission in May 2024, and all of Alderney's politicians were united behind it from the outset.
P&R says it is not giving any interviews at this stage.
The States of Alderney has responded to the decision, expressing its disappointment that costs for the 'vital airport redevelopment' have soared beyond the agreed budget.
But the island's leaders say they will ' seek a constructive solution'
Nigel Vooght, Chairman of Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee, said:
“We welcome P&R’s offer to explore options with us to find a possible solution. We will of course work constructively with them to find a more affordable option and funding solutions because the States of Alderney is unanimously agreed that the project is absolutely vital to the future of this Island and the Bailiwick economy.”
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