Sky's the limit for Dunlop Heywood as it lands 26th airport client

Rating consultant Dunlop Heywood is strengthening its position as an aviation rating expert after landing its 26th UK airport client.
Dunlop Heywood director Stuart HicksDunlop Heywood director Stuart Hicks
Dunlop Heywood director Stuart Hicks

The Leeds-based consultancy has been appointed rating consultant to Bournemouth Airport.

It joins a long list of airports which already use the firm including: Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Dublin, Liverpool John Lennon, Belfast, Aberdeen and Southampton. The team now represent 26 airports, stretching from Aberdeen to Lands’ End.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dunlop Heywood director Stuart Hicks said: “Our expertise in the aviation field is recognised across the UK and the Republic of Ireland and our client list has been growing steadily on the back of a long list of rating appeal successes including a landmark judgement obtained recently for Belfast International Airport.

“Bournemouth Airport followed quickly on the heels of Wycombe Air Park, another client who recently joined Dunlop Heywood, where we successfully reduced the rateable value from £277,500 to £201,000 – that’s a significant 27 per cent reduction for them, backdated to 2010.”

The economic downturn at the start of the decade hit aero incomes hard and airports faced real challenges in order to ensure their survival. One area where airport management sought to improve profitability was through challenging traditional methods of assessing airport rateable values and unlocking refunds in rates overpaid and savings in future rates liabilities.

Mr Hicks added: “Once you have a clear understanding of operations then you can confidently challenge the rateable value.”

Dublin International Airport reduced its rateable value by €20m – from €133m to €113m.

Related topics: