UK and Poland agree to cooperate on Solidarity Transport Hub
On 20 May 2020, representatives of the UK and Poland signed a cooperation agreement on the Solidarity Transport Hub (CPK).
Ambassador Knott and Deputy Minister Horała signing the agreement
The cooperation agreement was signed by Polish deputy infrastructure minister and government commissioner for CPK Marcin Horała and the British ambassador to Poland Jonathan Knott (on behalf of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade, Graham Stuart). The agreement envisages readiness for cooperation – involving a Polish-British consultation team - on designing airport and rail infrastructure, spatial planning for areas around the airport and issues relating to sustainable development and project digitisation.
The agreement is part of a continuing Polish-British cooperation on the CPK project. In June and September 2019, British Embassy Warsaw hosted workshops that paved the way for initial architectural concepts for the Solidarity Airport. The proposals were submitted by internationally renowned architecture firms Foster+Partners, Chapman Taylor, Zaha Hadid Architects, Grimshaw, Benoy, Pascall+Watson, Woods Bagot, Populous and KPF.
The British aviation sector has much experience and know-how to offer toward planning, designing and building the Solidarity Airport and 1600 km of new railway lines including high-speed lines. Minister Graham Stuart said:
I’ve previously met with Polish ministers to champion UK expertise in delivering their ambitious plans to transform Polish connectivity, so I’m particularly proud to announce the deal we’ve struck with Poland’s Infrastructure Ministry today. Poland is an ever more important trade partner for the UK and I’m delighted that, after more than two years work by my department, British firms’ experience and expertise can be at the heart of delivering this major boost to Poland’s trade and prosperity.
The UK is home to some of the best project management, engineering, architecture and finance experts in the world. It is the role of our dedicated trade department, DIT, through trade support and export finance, to make sure their brilliance is showcased on the world stage.
CEO of the Solidarity Transport Hub, Mikołaj Wild, said:
Representatives of the British aviation sector have worked with us shoulder to shoulder since a very early stage of the CPK project. I deeply hope that this cooperation will continue. We value the experience of British companies, gained in the course of realization of large infrastructure projects not only in their own country but also in other parts of the world.
Polish Government Commissioner for the Solidarity Transport Hub, Marcin Horała, said:
Large infrastructure projects such as the Solidarity Transport Hub respond to the transport needs of citizens and countries, but also provide an opportunity to exchange specialist knowledge and experience. I’m confident that cooperation with the UK will help build a modern, comfortable and epidemiologically safe airport.