VIDEO: Mass of work begins for London City Airport's concrete deck extension

A video published by London City Airport shows the transformational development now underway with more than 1,000 piles being installed to support a 75,000m² concrete deck extension, as part of its £480m expansion plans.

Acting as the first stage of construction, the deck will support new infrastructure including eight aircraft stands, a parallel taxiway and a world-class passenger terminal extension. Airport bosses say the £480m development programme will “significantly change” facilities for customers and help increase annual passenger numbers from 4.5 million to 6.5 million.

The airport has contracted BAM Nuttall to build the 75,000m² concrete deck which will be supported by more than 1,000 steel and concrete columns, each around 17.5m long and 1m in diameter. This deck will be the new 'land' upon which the new infrastructure will sit, above the dock waters of King George V Dock.

The £85m two-year project is part of the first phase of the City Airport Development Programme, which is due to be completed sometime in the first half of 2020. Bosses say the full programme is predicted to be complete in 2022.

BAM’s latest involvement at London City adds to catalogue of airport work already undertaken with the firm being involved in the construction, extension or renovation of many airports, including Schiphol in the Netherlands, Terminal 2 Munich and Berlin Brandenburg in Germany, Zaventem and Charlerois in Belgium, Cork in Ireland, Bristol, Newcastle, East Midlands and Heathrow in the UK.

Peter Adams, chief development officer for London City Airport, said: “The piling and decking phase of the airport development is an incredible civil engineering project, right in the heart of London’s Royal Docks. This is the first crucial stage in making London City Airport even better, led by our contractor BAM Nuttall. In essence we’re creating new land to build on, for a new terminal building and parallel taxiway, which will enable more routes, additional airlines and greater choice for passengers. Almost anything that you see today will not be untouched by this investment programme.”