Local students’ artwork brings Yorkshire to life at Farrans’ project for Leeds Bradford Airport
As part of Farrans’ ongoing Social Value commitment on our Leeds Bradford Airport project, our team partnered with Horsforth School to deliver a series of careers and sustainability sessions aimed at engaging and inspiring young people.
During visits to the school, the team was struck by the quality and creativity of the artwork on display within the Art Department. This sparked an idea. Could local students create artwork to be showcased on the project’s Phase 2 site hoarding?
The idea was enthusiastically supported by Mr David Questa, Art Teacher at Horsforth School, who involved his Year 9 art class, with contributions from some older students. Farrans attended a session with the class as the students completed their pieces, gaining first-hand insight into the creativity and effort behind the work.
Working alongside Joselyn Rankin from Leeds Bradford Airport, ten pieces were selected from over twenty submissions. The chosen artwork was professionally printed onto weatherproof boards and installed on the site hoarding.
To complete the journey, Farrans’ Eddie Burton arranged for the students to visit the site last week to see their work displayed in person, supported by Lisa Losardo from Leeds Bradford Airport Communications team.
The finished installation features stunning artwork from a range of year groups, all celebrating Yorkshire. A fitting theme for a location that will be seen by almost everyone arriving via the new terminal delivered in Phase 1.
First discussed in January 2025, now seeing this vision come to life has been a hugely rewarding outcome. The project is a proud example of how collaboration, creativity, and community engagement can leave a lasting legacy beyond construction.
Farrans completed Phase 1 and is now delivering Phase 2 of the Leeds Bradford Airport regeneration (LBA:REGEN), a privately funded £100 million investment to modernise the terminal and improve the passenger experience.
Phase 1 involved the construction of a 9,500 m², three-storey terminal extension, which opened in June 2025. This new facility provides more seating, faster security, expanded retail and dining options, a larger baggage reclaim area, immigration hall and improved accessibility for passengers with restricted mobility.
Phase 2 consists of a full refurbishment of the existing terminal, delivered in multiple sub-phases to minimise disruption. Works include new staircases, lifts and escalators to create a brighter, more open space, remodelled passenger flows, and new security, arrivals and retail facilities to complement the extension. Completion is expected in Winter 2026.
The LBA:REGEN programme will play a vital role in supporting regional growth, with the potential to create thousands of new jobs and contribute significantly to the local economy by 2030.
