Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has successfully completed works to ensure today’s entry into service of the upgraded Gatwick Airport station. The four-and-a-half-year construction and refurbishment project began in June 2019 and significantly upgrades the station’s ability to handle growing passenger numbers. Costain first delivered the planning and design stages and was then appointed to deliver the improvement works. The project has created a safer, more convenient interchange between the station platforms and Gatwick International Airport.  The brief included the construction of a new concourse and staff accommodation, as well as carrying out the reconfiguration of railway infrastructure. Costain has also refurbished the existing station concourse and footbridges, enhancing the one-way system between the airport and the station.  There are new customer information systems, more ticket gates and significant improvements to accessibility with the installation of eight new escalators and five new lifts. Costain’s project director, Andy Hudspith, said: “We’re really proud of the work we’ve undertaken for Network Rail to upgrade the station at Gatwick Airport.  The project has been complex and challenging, but we’re pleased that our work will enhance the passenger experience and improve journey times for everyone who uses and passes through the airport. The biggest challenge was to achieve the transformation without negatively impacting rail or airport operations, and with minimal impact on passengers, all while working above a live railway line and within the heart of the world’s busiest single runway airport. We’re delighted to have delivered such an important project successfully.” Gatwick airport is the UK’s second busiest airport and its station is one of the ten busiest stations in the UK outside of London, handling more than 20 million passengers a year. The redevelopment works were designed to provide crucial increased capacity to support airport growth and significantly enhance the passenger experience. The new second concourse has been built above the existing platforms five, six and seven, doubling the space available for passengers at the station.  The new exit concourse measures 1727 square metres, the size of eight tennis courts and provides a spectacular new entrance space to the airport.  The roof of the new concourse is formed using four clear spanning steel trusses that connect the platform and concourse environments in a sweeping arch form. The trusses are finished in gold anodised aluminium cladding, bringing warmth and prestige to the space. In between the trusses there are 945 square metres of ETFE pillows (a lightweight alternative to glazing) which floods the concourse with natural light, using the same technology as the biospheres at the Eden Project in Cornwall. Accessibility has been improved throughout, for example wheelchairs users’ access has been improved through the widening of the historically narrow platforms five and six. New tactile signage, including braille, has been integrated into the wayfinding signage strategy and there are 70 new hearing loops at key points.  A 24/7 special assistance point has been created in the existing station concourse to provide additional support for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities. As well as encouraging sustainable travel, Costain also targeted reducing carbon emissions during the building and operation of the new concourse.  The project used almost 3,000m3 of low-carbon concrete, saving 517 tonnes of CO2 emissions and £12,500 in costs. LED lighting was used throughout the station, escalators were fitted with reduced speed technology to lower emissions when not in use, and high efficiency gearless lifts were installed as well as a hybrid heating and cooling system. An estimated annual cost saving of nearly £60,000 and an annual reduction of 144 tonnes of carbon emissions are expected from these features. David Taylor, Costain’s interim managing director for Transportation, commented: “The development at Gatwick transforms the existing station and provides a greatly enhanced experience for passengers. Costain’s extensive capability to deliver complex programmes has been showcased with this project; we’ve used leading edge smart technology and worked sustainably to create a wonderful new space for passengers. It’s been a particularly collaborative project which has helped enormously with its success; from an engaged and supportive supply chain to Network Rail’s invaluable assistance with possessions of the railway.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A new road designed to improve the flow of traffic in and around Aylesford has been officially opened. The £8m road linking Station Road and Bellingham Way, has been delivered by Panattoni as part of its £180m redevelopment of the former Aylesford Newsprint site. Creating more than 1 million sq ft of high quality logistics and distribution space, the site near Junction 4 of the M20 in Kent is the South East flagship development of Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate company in the UK and Europe. The road was jointly opened with a cutting of a ribbon by Cllr Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council; Cllr Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, and Tony Watkins, Panattoni’s Head of Development for South East and London. Tony Watkins said: “It’s great to be able to deliver on a key part of our promise to the local community. This new road has been designed to relieve congestion on the local road network and enable the site to support high quality businesses and the people they will employ.” As a result of the new road, all non-HGV traffic destined for Panattoni Park Aylesford or New Hythe Business Park can now access them via junctions 4, 5 and 6 on the M20, via Bellingham Way and Station Road. KCC Leader Roger Gough, added: “This investment in new infrastructure shows why it is so important to attract positive investment from market leaders such as Panattoni. “The timely provision of the new link assists with local connectivity, complementing the area’s highway network, and has enabled the redevelopment of the vacant Aylesford Newsprint site, creating thousands of new jobs. We look forward to supporting Panattoni’s continued investment in Kent and see this as a great vote of confidence in the importance of the county’s economy.” Thanks to its location, the site called Panattoni Park Aylesford, is now home to Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer; DHL, the global logistics company; Evri, the UK’s biggest dedicated parcel delivery company; Fowler Welch, the temperature-controlled logistics company, and Marley, a UK leader in the manufacture and supply of pitched roof systems to the construction market. Planning permission has also recently been granted for the development of 630,000 sq ft to be constructed on the site. The only remaining space is Plot 6A which offers the design and build of a further 16,500 sq ft of space for another logistics industry business. Cllr Matt Boughton, said: “Since first unveiling its plans in 2020, the team at Panattoni have been true to their word and transformed this derelict 90-acre site. They must be congratulated for delivering a really high quality home for world-class businesses offering a wide range of modern jobs here in Tonbridge and Malling.” As part of an agreement with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council during the planning process, Panattoni will support the refurbishment of the Aylesford and New Hythe railway stations. It will also extend the provision of local bus services in the area, and put new cycle paths and footpaths in place. The existing buildings on the site have been built to achieve high environmental performance. DHL’s building is a net zero carbon facility with a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of ‘A+’ to support its last-mile facility serving the South East. The 97,891 sq ft building taken by Fowler Welch incorporates a 1.5MVA photovoltaic array covering the roof; a bespoke car park canopy; and cycle shelter. The peak electrical output from the solar panels is equal to the incoming supply, which means the Fowler Welch facility will be able to operate fully from the power generated onsite. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

£48m funding boost to get Penistone rail line on the right track Kirklees Council have been successful with their bid to the government’s Levelling Up Fund for £48m to support significant improvements to the infrastructure of the Penistone rail line. The fund is designed to support local authorities to invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities. The Penistone rail line runs between Huddersfield, Penistone and Sheffield, via Barnsley, providing an important link between communities and is a sustainable alternative to road travel. However, the line currently experiences capacity issues and has a number of infrastructure constraints that allow only one train to travel per hour along the northern section between Huddersfield and Barnsley. This, added to speed limits of 50mph or lower at some sections, all contribute to long journey times, averaging 1 hour 15 minutes, end to end. These slow journeys hinder connectivity between communities and are unattractive to commuters who turn to other forms of transport like private car travel. For lower income families without access to a car, it creates additional barriers to access employment, leisure and cultural attractions. The funding announced today will enable a package of infrastructure and access measures that will make the Penistone rail line a significant link between Huddersfield, Barnsley and Sheffield. Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet Member for Transport, says: “Here in Kirklees, our connectedness is one of our greatest strengths.  We not only have great towns and beautiful countryside, we’re also slap bang in the middle of some of the north’s most influential cities – and our rail links help connect us with those cities, with the rest of the north, beyond that, the whole of the UK.  The benefits of improving these connections, both to individual residents and to our local economy as a whole, are huge. “It’s also important to remember that this project is part of a much bigger picture in terms of developing Kirklees’ transport system, which will also help make public transport a more viable option across the district, tying in with our green agenda.  For example, as Huddersfield is a stop on the Transpennine Route – which is currently being upgraded – there is also the opportunity to connect more people to this and other planned infrastructure projects. “It’s very exciting to see so much transformation across Kirklees and beyond.” Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, says: “I am delighted that the Levelling Up Fund bid for this project has been successful and will allow us to deliver significant improvements to the Penistone line and provide numerous benefits to businesses and communities along the route. “Our transport links not only give us the opportunity to broaden the labour market for businesses in our area but provides easier and faster access to employment opportunities and leisure activities or events in the wider region.  “We submitted four Kirklees bids for Levelling Up funds, and all have now been successful. That is testament to the hard work our officers have put into designing and producing high quality bids. I want to thank Tracy Brabin, all the MPs, businesses and local people who supported us to put some brilliant plans together. “We will keep working to bring investment to all parts of Kirklees and this great selection of ambitious plans will help us deliver the economic growth we all need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals