Steel sites longlisted for Heathrow runway logistics hubs

British Steel’s Scunthorpe site and Severfield’s Dalton Airfield facility near Thirsk have both been longlisted as potential offsite construction centres for the building of Heathrow Airport’s new runway.

The two facilities, form part of a 65-strong list of sites, still in the running to be logistics hubs for the Heathrow expansion. These hubs will help ensure that businesses across the UK can form part of the airport’s supply chain, enabling Heathrow’s new runway to deliver a legacy of construction excellence across the UK.

Heathrow representatives are currently visiting all longlisted locations in the first half of 2018, assessing their suitablilty, before putting successful bids through to the next round.

Heathrow expansion is a critical national infrastructure project for the UK that is expected to deliver up to £12bn in economic benefits.

Heathrow is pioneering logistics hubs, where components of the airport will be pre-assembled before being transported in consolidated loads to the airport.

They are essential in ensuring that the Heathrow expansion delivers for the whole country by spreading jobs, boosting productivity and modernising the construction industry outside of London and the South East. They will ensure that 60% of procurement spend will be outside of London, spreading the benefits of local investment up and down the country.

British Steel Deputy CEO Paul Martin said: “We’re delighted to have welcomed Heathrow to our headquarters and showcase the leading role our site, and this region, can play in its expansion.

“We have superb infrastructure, excellent transport connections and unique development opportunities. By working in partnership with our many supporters, we can deliver a first-class logistics hub to Heathrow and a huge economic boost to Yorkshire and the Humber.”

Severfield Managing Director Gary Wintersgill said: “It’s great to be longlisted and we will be demonstrating all the reasons we think this site would be an ideal location for one of Heathrow’s logistics hubs.”

Lord Deighton, Chairman at Heathrow Airport, said: “The Heathrow expansion is a national infrastructure project that will benefit the whole country, including right across Yorkshire and the Humber, so it is hugely exciting to have a delegation from Heathrow in the region as part of the latest stage of our nationwide tour of potential Logistics Hubs locations.