Heathrow Airport has appointed McLaren Construction for the redevelopment of its Eastern Business Park to build and construct a 9,481 sq m warehouse scheme.
The original buildings at the Eastern Business Park were built in around 1952 and were demolished earlier this year to make way for a more flexible and commercially attractive development.
Heathrow is redeveloping the 1.6 hectare site as four warehouse buildings, each split into eight units. The 32 units range in size from 200 to 400 square metres GIA on ground level. The structure allows expansion of the mezzanine to form a complete first floor, providing flexibility for occupiers to expand or consolidate space over time.
The design allows most elements except footings and drainage to be manufactured offsite. The largest elements are the continuous roof panels which are 16 metres, including edge trims, gutters and solar array. The steel frame will be preassembled in factory, stripped down for transport and erected on site. Flat roof sections will consist of cross-laminated timber panels brought to site completed and to size.
The buildings are expected to generate more than 700kWh of electricity a year from solar photovoltaics that will be exported back into Heathrow.
McLaren will work within the constraints of a live operational airport site. Existing services crossing the site include cables, foul and surface water drainage, fire main and potable water.
Obstacle limitation services (OLS) height restrictions of nine metres at the west end rising to 13.5 metres at the east end of site will be observed to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. McLaren has developed a methodology to work within the OLS limits offering programme and cost savings and avoiding out of hours work during the 12- to 18-month construction period.
McLaren’s subcontractor team includes:
- Structural steelwork: SCWS
- Whitewall: Colclad
- Roofing and cladding: Roofdec
- PV panels: Watt Energy
- Precast: FP McCann
- Curtain walling: Ridgeway
McLaren Construction’s managing director for industrial and logistics, David Gavin, said: “Heathrow’s status as a major hub creates opportunities not only in cargo handling but also for the many support services and businesses needed to meet the airport’s essential operational needs. These new Grade A warehouses represent a major transformation from the site’s post-war buildings. Their sustainable design highlights how far industrial development has moved on, and they now form an integral part of the airport’s infrastructure.”
The project is due to complete in summer 2026.
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