Seven leading companies have been signed up to design plans for the sustainable expansion of Heathrow, the second busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic.

The group – Amec Foster Wheeler, Arup, Atkins, Grimshaw, Mott MacDonald, Jacobs and Quod – to be known as the Integrated Design Team (IDT) will help deliver one of the most leading-edge airport operations in the world, said a statement from Heathrow.  

The seven were chosen because of their experience in delivering projects of similar size, breadth and importance as an expanded Heathrow.

Heathrow is already one of the most experienced infrastructure delivery companies in the UK, having invested £11 billion ($13.7 billion) over a decade to transform into the independently recognised best hub airport in Europe.

It includes a new Terminal 2 and Terminal 5, both delivered on time and on budget and the latter of which has been voted by passengers as the best in the world four years in a row.

Their appointment followed competitive selection processes and a thorough commercial review. The teams have each been awarded four-year term contracts.
 
Each supplier is a world leader within their field and have unique insights into how to build Heathrow sustainably and affordably:
 
*Amec Foster Wheeler will continue to assist the airport with its sustainability strategies and environmental impact assessment
*Arup will utilise its engineering expertise to lead the passenger experience and baggage improvement programmes
*Atkins was appointed because of its engineering capability and record of delivering IT and asset replacement programmes
*Grimshaw’s creativity and experience, including its successful delivery of Terminal 2B, earned it the role of concept architect within the IDT.
*Jacobs will contribute its aviation infrastructure design expertise to provide airport planning and engineering services
*Mott MacDonald’s airport masterplans, as well as its significant engineering expertise will be a crucial addition to the IDT
*Quod will be a valuable asset to the IDT, as one of the UK’s leading town and country planning consultants with extensive knowledge on making successful DCO applications.
 
On the new contract, Barry Weekes, the head of design at Heathrow, said: "With their institutional knowledge of Heathrow, and proven record in building complex infrastructure projects, the members of the IDT will allow us to hit the ground running to deliver Heathrow expansion."
 
"Their appointment is a significant milestone in what will be a fast paced design and engineering schedule. We are now well on our way to delivering Britain’s new runway, providing the additional capacity our country needs to maintain its place in the world as a prosperous, outward looking trading nation," stated Weekes.
 
The appointment of the IDT follows the announcement of the partners in the Programme Client Team in March of this year.

Arup, CH2M, MACE and Turner & Townsend will all work alongside Heathrow Airport in this capacity to deliver expansion to the highest industry standards in planning, innovation and quality.-TradeArabia News Service