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"Detailed cost estimates" are going to be drawn up which could see Alderney Airport's runway reconstructed without any of the proposed work to the airport buildings going ahead.
The terminal building, the air traffic control tower, and the airport fire service building were all in line to be either replaced or refurbished as part of previously agreed plans to update the island's airport and runway.
However, with the overall project costs rising by more than £13million the work has been put on hold and RPS Consulting has been invited to the island to look at the runway to see what can be done to improve that by itself as a matter of urgent priority.
Pictured: Bits were falling off Alderney Airport's control tower recently, but it's unlikely the building work will go ahead any time soon.
The airfield specialist has sent an engineer over this week. He will draw up designs and detailed cost estimates for options that focus on reconstructing the existing asphalt runway, taxiway and aprons.
A spokesperson for the States Trading Supervisory Board - which oversees all Bailiwick ports in Guernsey and Alderney - has also confirmed the runway project will include other aspects too.
The issue of soil contamination within Alderney's airfield will be addressed - amid ongoing concerns over the historic use of fire-fighting foam on the site.
Experts from Arcadis, which is advising the States of Guernsey on remediation options, will look at that at the end of this month, with their work informing the cost analysis that RPS is doing.
There'll also be an opportunity for an archaeological study of a prehistoric barrow lying just outside the airfield, at La Houguette de la Taille.
It's one of three historic sites identified in the planning approval for the wider refurbishment of the airport, which was granted in May this year. One of the conditions of that planning approval was written documentation of an investigation into any archaeological remains, before the construction work started.
Pictured: Dr Philip de Jersey at a Castle Cornet dig earlier this year.
Although the overall scope and design of the project has now changed due to the increased construction costs, an archaeological review is likely to be included in any future planning permissions too so the States of Guernsey Archaeologist has already started his work.
Dr Philip de Jersey has already prepared the written scheme of investigation, which proposed excavating the barrow and with that work needing to be caried out before the winter, while weather conditions allow, he will be spending time in Alderney during early October to carry out the work needed to record the prehistoric site.
Dr de Jersey's written scheme of investigation also addresses two other important historic sites in Alderney - the Lager Sylt concentration camp and the Windmuhlenberg strongpoint - both of which are around the perimeter of the airfield.
A small part of the Lager Sylt site - believed to have been living quarters and a washroom - is within the current airfield. It's likely that a full photographic record will be made of those structures with an archaeological watching brief put in place during their removal.
For the Windmuhlenberg strongpoint, no further surveys have been proposed ahead of construction, but a watching brief would also be maintained there throughout construction so that a record can be made of any findings as the work progresses.
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