Heathrow Heads to Yorkshire to Kick Off Nationwide Tour of Longlisted Sites Bidding to Build New Runway

• Heathrow launches nationwide tour of longlisted Logistics Hubs sites at Leeds Bradford Airport
• The nationwide tour begins in Yorkshire, as the region is home to 11 longlisted sites, more sites than any other region
• Logistics Hubs will participate in off-site construction of Britain’s new runway – spreading economic benefits across the UK

Today a delegation from Heathrow Airport visit Leeds Bradford Airport to launch their nationwide tour of 65 sites still in the running to be the offsite construction centres for Heathrow expansion. ‘Logistics 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.

Following the launch, Heathrow Chairman Lord Deighton and a delegation from Heathrow will carry out a tour of Leeds Bradford Airport’s proposed site before visiting a second potential site, Bishopdyke Enterprises, in the afternoon. During each visit, the prospective Logistics Hub will have the opportunity to demonstrate the strengths of their proposal.

The tour begins in Yorkshire, as the region is home to the most longlisted sites. Heathrow representatives will be visiting a total of 11 sites across the region including Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Severfield UK, and British Steel as well as bids across the Sheffield City Region. Heathrow representatives will visit all longlisted locations in the first half of 2018, and aim to open a pre-qualification questionnaire process later this year.  

Heathrow expansion is a critical national infrastructure project for the UK that is expected to deliver up to £12bn in economic benefits and 11,200 jobs across Yorkshire. This announcement is the latest major milestone in the delivery of Heathrow expansion, and comes ahead of an expected Parliamentary vote on the policy framework in the first half of this year.

Heathrow is pioneering Logistics Hubs, where components of the airport will be pre-assembled before being transported in consolidated loads to the airport. Logistics Hubs are essential in ensuring 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. As well as the direct benefits, new research from WPI Economics shows that, if adopted more widely, the approach could spur growth in off-site construction and lead to a productivity boost worth £30 billion for the industry outside of London by 2025.

Heathrow’s Logistics Hubs feature in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, listed as an example of how to develop skills across the UK and create conditions where successful businesses can emerge. Heathrow has also begun working with other major infrastructure companies to explore how the final sites could be used for future projects.

Lord Deighton, Chairman at Heathrow Airport, said:

“It is great to be here at Leeds Bradford Airport today launching Heathrow’s Logistics Hub Tour. Heathrow expansion is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the UK construction industry, build for the future and deliver a lasting skills legacy for future generations. All of this comes at a pivotal time for our country, as it prepares itself to leave the EU and where we need to build for our future in both travel and trade.

“An expanded Heathrow is for all of Britain and the Logistics Hubs are instrumental in our aim to ensure that expansion spreads the huge potential of its £187 billion in economic benefits across the UK, whilst minimising the impact on the airport’s local communities. Off-site construction is an innovative way for these balances to be met and we can’t wait to see for ourselves the opportunity we have in working with the best businesses in the country.”

David Laws, chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said:

“I am proud that Leeds Bradford Airport is kicking off Heathrow’s nationwide tour. We believe this airport represents an ideal location for one of Heathrow’s Logistics Hubs. The knock-on effects of a site here would bring huge benefits to people living in and around the airport, creating jobs in the local area. At Leeds Bradford, we connect people to the world, and it is great that Heathrow is connecting people across the country with the benefits that Heathrow expansion will bring.”