Completion of demolition works at former Gate Gourmet catering base, Heathrow Airport

2025 has seen the continuation of our high-profile demolition projects around the world, none more exciting than completing yet another Principal Contractor role at Heathrow Airport, this time the demolition of the Former Gate Gourmet Catering Base.

Expanding on our 35 years of experience across the UK’s airports, our specialist division we excited to get their teeth into this major demolition project within a stone’s throw distance of a live runway and airport operations. Located on Southampton Road, in close proximity to terminal 4, the former Gate Gourmet warehouse consisted of a steel framed main building at a higher level, wrapped on 3 sides on a lower elevation by steel structures with metal cladding externally.

Our airport team works closely with Airport Operations from early consultation through to project completion in order to ensure the safest, most affordable way of conducting demolition works without impacting on an airport’s day-to-day movements.

Our team successfully completed the asbestos removal and soft-strip of all structures. This was followed by the methodical structural demolition, before crushing demolition arisings on-site. One key element of the works was the protection of a substation, with the team’s expertise allowing them to recall previous successful projects at Heathrow (such as the Old Control Tower) to ensure this process was seamlessly followed for safe completion on-site.

Our success in this sector is down to our experience, outstanding main contractor relationships, understanding the complex environment, and meeting client expectations. Our clients value our expert management of service clearances, traffic logistics, waste management, health and safety and environmental controls.

Our vast experience with Airports means we understand the stringent controls and constraints that apply in this environment. We know that Foreign Object Debris (FOD) control is a primary concern. The public and other contractors are protected from our demolition works by barriers/site boundaries and Heras fencing fixed with debris netting to minimise the escape of any FOD. The works vicinity and compound are cleaned by operatives daily and frequent inspections are carried out, preventing the release of any debris. Any waste produced is kept strictly within skips, with covers placed over.

With our permanent presence at Heathrow providing our base for our specialist airport division, we have some more incredible projects in the pipeline across the UK airports, and are excited to maintain, as well as nurture new, relationships within this space.