Heathrow Airport has begun a significant redevelopment of its Eastern Business Park, transforming a 1.6-hectare site into a new logistics facility designed to support the airport’s growing operational and business needs.
The project, scheduled for completion in mid-2026, will deliver four modern warehouse buildings comprising 32 flexible units tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises connected to the airport.
The redevelopment replaces post-war structures first constructed in 1952, which were demolished earlier this year.
In their place, the airport is investing in a state-of-the-art, sustainable complex with a gross external area of 9,481 square metres.
Each of the four warehouse blocks will be divided into eight units, ranging from 200 to 400 square metres on the ground floor.
Flexibility is at the core of the new design. Each unit incorporates a 50 per cent mezzanine, with the option to expand into a full first floor.
This allows occupants to adapt their space in line with business growth or consolidation — key for companies operating in the fast-moving airport supply chain.
Airport access has been a central consideration.
The site is strategically located off the Eastern Perimeter Road, adjacent to Control Post 12, enabling direct and secure links to Heathrow’s airside operations.
The redeveloped park is expected to serve a wide range of occupiers, including cargo handlers, logistics providers, and firms offering essential support services to the airport’s daily operations.
McLaren Construction is delivering the scheme through an approach that maximises offsite manufacturing.
Nearly all building components will be prefabricated, from 16-metre continuous roof panels fitted with solar arrays to cross-laminated timber roof sections cut to precise lengths before delivery.
Even the steel frame will be preassembled in a factory, dismantled for transport, and quickly re-erected on site, speeding up installation while reducing disruption around the busy airport perimeter.
One of the most challenging aspects of the development is working within the airport’s Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) — strict height restrictions that safeguard aircraft operations.
Heights on the site are capped between nine metres at the western edge and 13.5 metres on the eastern side.
By designing to these parameters from the outset, the project team has avoided the need for after-hours construction and ensured both programme efficiency and cost control over the 12- to 18-month build.
David Gavin, managing director for industrial and logistics at McLaren Construction, highlighted the importance of the project for Heathrow’s future.
“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.”
Sustainability is a recurring theme across the project.
The logistics park has been designed with solar photovoltaic panels integrated into the roofing system, while the use of prefabrication reduces waste, construction time, and onsite environmental impact.
A team of specialist subcontractors is contributing to the build, including SCWS for structural steelwork, Colclad for whitewall, Roofdec for roofing and cladding, Watt Energy for photovoltaic systems, FP McCann for precast elements, and Ridgeway for curtain walling.
Upon completion, the Eastern Business Park redevelopment will provide Heathrow with a flexible, future-ready logistics asset that not only enhances operational resilience but also places sustainability and adaptability at the heart of its design.
