A Dorset steel construction company has won a new contract to build a £2.2million hangar under ambitious expansion plans at London Biggin Hill Airport.
REIDsteel will build the 60,000 sq ft structure to provide parking for up to 11 executive business jets together with 10,000 sq ft of office space over three-storeys.
The 130-strong business will supply and erect the entire structure including steelwork, wall cladding, roof cladding, glazing and hangar doors under the contract through Tonbridge-based Civils Contracting Ltd.
Work has started with the first steel arriving at the internationally renowned airport. Completion is due by late summer 2017.
It is the tenth structure to be built by Christchurch-based REIDsteel at Biggin Hill and once complete will be the largest hangar at the airport.
The new contract comes hot on the heels of Biggin Hill securing a £15m HSBC finance package to fund the hangar, office accommodation and a 50-bedroom four-star hotel as the airport develops its infrastructure to meet rising demand for business aviation.
REIDsteel project engineer Richard Hanson said: “London Biggin Hill Airport’s ambitious growth plans will see it create 2,300 jobs by 2030 in the field of business aviation and technology.
“We have developed a close and valuable relationship with Biggin Hill and its business partners over many years, helping the airport to grow through our expertise in structural steel design, fabrication and construction.
“By supplying and erecting the entire parking hangar, including steelwork, wall cladding, roof cladding, glazing and the hangar doors, we can ensure a seamless, on-time build.
“It will be our tenth build at Biggin Hill as we look forward to helping the airport enhance its reputation as a high technology and aviation hub, and as the gateway to London and the City.”
The parking hangar will feature twin span door openings of 65 metres each. The 9.5m high doors will enable the accommodation of executive class business jets.
Robert Walters, business development director at London Biggin Hill Airport, said: “Construction of the hangar is really moving along and it’s fantastic to see the building taking shape.
“This hangar is an important development for London Biggin Hill and a significant part of our plans to meet the steadily growing demand for business aviation.
“It will be able to accommodate six G650s or six Global 7000s as well as 10,000 square foot of office space and we’re looking forward to seeing it opened at the end of the year.”
London Biggin Hill airport is home to 65 commercial and aviation activities, 55 business jets and more than 150 other private aircraft and helicopters.
Other developments at the airport have included Bombardier setting up a UK maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) facility, with Signature Flight Support operating the FBO in the former Rizon Jet hangar, built by REIDsteel.
Biggin Hill’s own bespoke fixed base operator (FBO) operation and terminal has also been built by REIDsteel.
Structural steel company REIDsteel has the capability to design, manufacture, ship and erect entire steel buildings including their cladding and or glazing requirements anywhere in the UK and the world.
It designs and constructs aircraft hangars of all sizes from wide span hangars to accommodate Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A380 aircraft to bespoke light aircraft hangars, as well as cantilevered hangars which permit unlimited clear spans.
The company can meet bespoke requirements for glazing, cladding, overhead cranes, gantries, workshops, offices and docking, seismic loads, arctic snows and storm resistance.
