Heathrow’s largest ever airside development project to increase capacity enabling 20 million passengers per year to pass through the Terminal 2.

Innovative engineering and efficient construction solutions

The project presented various design and construction challenges, including working in a live airport environment, buried critical services and managing complex ground conditions. To address these, during Phase 2, a mixed top-down and bottom-up construction approach was adopted, allowing the steel frame to be erected while excavation continued underneath, saving approximately six months in construction time.  Innovative engineering solutions, such as the largest diaphragm wall in Europe at the time, were implemented, utilising over 165,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete. This technique minimised excavation volumes, provided additional usable space, and enabled faster construction. Extensive use of temporary ground anchors allowed for large clear excavation areas, eliminating the need for internal propping and facilitating parallel construction activities. These strategies resulted in substantial excavation and material savings, ensuring the project was delivered on schedule and within budget. The satellite pier now features 16 new aircraft stands, retail space, and an extensive basement for future baggage handling and transit systems, highlighting the project’s scale and complexity.