Leonardo Maintenance Hanger
Elstree Aerodrome
Project Highlights
Sector
Aviation
Procurement Route
Single-Stage D&B
Value
£5.6m
Programme
41 weeks
Completion Date
November ‘25
Location
Borehamwood
Client
Leonardo Helicopters and London Elstree Aerodrome
Key Features
- Works completed within the designated airport grounds immediately next to the Helicopter training area and 100m from the live runway
- Provision of a new 500m long access road to serve the facility
- Lime / Cement ground stabilisation
Project Summary
A new build hangar, providing an in-line maintenance facility for a premier helicopter manufacturer. As well as internal space for 4nr helicopters there are offices and mechanical workshops. External works include parking spaces for 37nr vehicles and concrete aprons to the front of the hangar allowing access to the 2nr helipads.
Project Works Overview
RIBA Stage 2 project overviews and outline specifications had to be developed and co-ordinated into full design by NCL, with many CDP elements involved. Exacting end user performance specifications needed to be met; with close liaison and engagement with their gantry crane installation that will to be fitted post PC.
Site Setting and Restrictions
- Located on an existing aerodrome, requiring careful control of access and segregation.
- The aerodrome setting also required enhanced work-face management to ensure industry-leading standards of housekeeping were maintained, removing the risk of wind-blown material (referred to as Foreign-Object-Debris) entering the ‘air-side’ areas of the aerodrome.
- The site was landlocked within the aerodrome complex requiring construction of a project-specific access road from the local highway network prior to commencement of construction.
Key Activity – Earthworks
- An engineered ground stabilisation scheme provided a solution for the clay-based subsoils and was required over the site footprint and full length of the access road.
- Drainage swales provided a sustainable solution to manage surface water, and a new foul water treatment plant was installed due to having no local sewer connection.
Community Enhancement and Involvement
- Direct communication established with aerodrome management to control plant movements, plan work with cranes, MEWPs etc. and ensure risk of glare to pilots was
mitigated.
- Delivery planning was integrated with the local area residents to reduce impact, avoiding high traffic times in nearby Borehamwood and West Watford.
Services/Stats/S278’s Involvement
- New service installation comprised a new 1000kVA electrical substation, new fire hydrants and water supply, which were connected from the nearest access to the local highway.
- Tie-in details at the local highway connection were rapidly approved to enable commencement as start on site required connection to the existing road network due to the isolated nature of the work area.
Sustainability and Environmental Contribution
- The design of this project introduced a considerable area of hardstanding to the aerodrome complex which could not be
accommodate by the existing drainage network. - This was overcome by introduction of an on-site soakaway system using the considerable length of the access road to achieve infiltration, reducing off-site water disposal to zero.
- We also introduced an on-site effluent treatment plant, removing any additional foul drainage load from the network, allowing disposal through the infiltration system.
