Airports Construction Taking Off

The scale of new construction work across the country’s airports is taking off. In addition to the huge potential workload at Heathrow’s £14 billion third runway, significant new construction projects are underway or in the pipeline across the UK’s regions¬ and at the capital’s other airports.

With Government figures showing air passenger numbers growing fastest in the UK regions - up by an average of 4.5% pa over 2011-16 compared to 4.2% pa in London - some major expansions to airport capacity outside the South East are creating tender opportunities. Both Kier Group and Morgan Sindall, which works on a framework at Heathrow, highlighted aviation amongst their more promising markets during the recent financial reporting season.

In September, Leeds Bradford Airport unveiled plans to build a £12 million, three storey extension to house an improved arrivals area, larger departure gates and more retail and food & beverage space. When the building is complete in late 2019, the airport is also planning to re-model its existing terminal building.

Expansion for long-haul flights

Across the Pennines, a £250 million expansion is in the pipeline at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool with an extended runway to host long-haul flights and an expanded terminal to handle growing passenger numbers (Glenigan Project ID: 17234574). Work on the project could start in 2022 and run for three years.

In the West Midlands, detailed plans have recently been submitted for a new £15 million three-storey extension to the terminal building at Birmingham Airport. Tenders are currently invited on the project where work is set to start in the new year and run for 20 months (Glenigan Project ID: 18262452)

Meanwhile, at Manchester Airport Group – which also owns London Stansted and East Midlands airports – tenders are being invited for a £50 million modular car parks framework to meet growing passenger demand. Work on the project is set to start next Spring (Glenigan Project ID: 18106153).

New capacity

The smaller growing airports around London are also investing in constructing new capacity. At Southend Airport, where Ryanair is planning to launch new routes in 2019, detailed plans have recently been granted for £7 million of improvements including an extension to the passenger terminal. Work is set to start at the end of this year (Glenigan Project ID: 06258238).

Meanwhile, at London Luton Airport, tenders are being invited for a £6 million civil works & maintenance framework which is due to start in the new year (Glenigan Project ID: 18072099). Construction work on a £14.1 million airport refurbishment at Luton started during the summer and is set to continue until next Spring.

Further around the M25 at London Stansted Airport, tenders are currently being invited for the new £150 million arrivals building (Glenigan Project ID: 16448791). Construction on the new 34,000 sq m project designed by Mott MacDonald and Pascall & Watson Architects is due to start later this year and run for 39 months

The growth of air cargo is also creating some significant new tender opportunities. Detailed plans have recently been submitted for a major £200 million scheme to re-open Manston Airport near Ramsgate, chiefly as a cargo facility (Glenigan Project ID: 08503252). Work on the scheme, which has been deemed a ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’ could start next summer and run for three years.