New baggage hall arriving at London Southend Airport

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant decline in air travel, Stobart Group is continuing its expansion plans at London Southend Airport. The work includes an extension to the terminal building’s baggage area.

The steel-framed terminal building was constructed nine years ago, as the Airport geared itself up as a convenient gateway for the London 2012 Olympics.

“The extension is required in order to comply with Department for Transport regulations to screen luggage using Standard 3,” explains XYZ Rail & Civils Senior Project Manager Roy Hill.

“As the Airport grows it needs to have the latest Standard 3 security X-ray equipment, so we are building an extension that wraps around the existing area on three sides to house these new machines as well as an extension to the conveyor system.”

The extension consists of moment connection portal frames constructed from 254 UCs and 406UB main rafters. It abuts the existing terminal building, but there is no connection between the two steel frames, which are both structurally independent.

The project’s steelwork contractor, Border Steelwork Structures is also installing the extension’s cladding and its entire package is due to complete before Xmas.

Construction work on the extension is due to complete in March and a fit-out programme is then due to begin in June, with the new and enlarged baggage area coming into full operation during summer 2021.