Gatwick Airport says it will now spend a further £1bn in the airport between 2014 and 2019 to build on the improvements delivered to passengers over the past three years.
Longer term it said it would be making the case to be the location for the next runway in the south east.
The latest plans, which must be cleared by the Civil Aviation Authority, raise hopes of a much-needed boost to the pipeline of work for the 10 contractors on the airport’s major projects framework and the 23 firms on the minor works panel. These frameworks are due to be renewed in two years time when the next five-year spending plan kicks in.
Firms looking to renew include Balfour Beatty, Bouygues, Carillion, Costain, Mace, Morgan Sindall, Laing O’Rourke, Vinci, Volker Fitzpatrick and Willmott Dixon.
The next phase of improvements include further transformation of check-in areas and a £26m modern technology security area in North Terminal and a £90m expansion of the international departure longe.
Major projects in 2014-2019 include Vinci’s £184m job to redevelopmen Pier 1 – the UK’s oldest pier – which will see the existing pier demolished and a two-storey replacement built.
Gatwick Airport also plans to start work by as early as by 2014 on a £175m plan to extend Pier 6 to increase the number of A380 stands.
So far it has spent £892m of a planned £1.2bn upgrade programme set down for 2008-2014. This equates to around £20m per month to upgrade and improve the airport facilities.
Snapshot of airport spending so far
- New £45m inter-terminal shuttle
- New £25m North Terminal transport interchange showcasing a new entrance to the terminal
- £40m investment in six new wide-bodied aircraft stands, two of which can accommodate A380s
- £17m in 1,200 short stay car parking spaces next to the North Terminal
- £5m in two new security lanes in the North Terminal security area
- £8m to refurbish the immigration hall in the South Terminal delivering an improved layout and accommodation for UKBF
- £45m invested in a new 19-lane security area in the South Terminal
- £73m invested in extending the North Terminal building to provide additional check-in and arrivals baggage reclaim capability
- Increased the size of aircraft stands and improved gate rooms on Pier 2 – £39m
- £95m invested in the baggage systems on both terminals
- £11m improving the North Terminal security
- £49m resurfacing the runway
- £13m improving the South Terminal departures lounge
