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Heathrow reveals design contractors amid rail and road improvement cost controversy

Heathrow Airport has revealed the team of seven contractors who will oversee the proposed expansion at the London airport, while a dispute rages between Transport for London (TfL) and the Transport Secretary over the estimated cost of infrastructure improvements.

Amec Foster Wheeler, Arup, Atkins, Grimshaw’s, Jacobs, Mott McDonald’s and Quod will comprise Heathrow’s Integrated Design Team (IDT), with each awarded four year contracts to assist the airport in delivering its third runway expansion plans.

Following the announcement, Barry Weekes, Head of Design at Heathrow, said: “With their institutional knowledge of Heathrow, and proven record in building complex infrastructure projects, the members of the Integrated Design Team will allow us to hit the ground running to deliver Heathrow expansion.”

However, the announcement has been overshadowed by a public spat between TfL and Chris Grayling over cost estimates for road and rail improvements linked to Heathrow’s expansion.

At an Environmental Audit Committee exploring Heathrow’s third runway yesterday, Grayling branded TfL’s cost estimates as ‘ludicrous’, after the transport body said improvements to the rail and road network between London and the airport could total £20bn.

The Airports Commission had previously estimated infrastructure works would cost £5bn to support the increased demand for transport access to an expanded Heathrow.

Grayling said: “I’m baffled as to where TfL manages to get a £15bn figure from because I don’t know what you’d spend the money on.”

Citing ongoing and currently in development infrastructure projects, including improvements to the M4, the launch of Crossrail and the development of HS2, Grayling said that such projects would improve capacity and go ahead regardless of expansion.

TfL hit back at the criticisms today and said that the figure had been reached following ‘expert analysis’ and poured scorn on some of the Airport Commission’s recommendations.

A spokesperson said: “Our expert analysis indicates approximately £15bn more investment will be needed beyond what is already committed and the key component of this is a new southern rail link from Waterloo to Heathrow.

“Thus far, the government has given no commitments to deliver this new rail link, despite the Airport’s Commission’s recommendation to do so and, without such a commitment, the aspirations for no increase in road traffic are not credible.”

Expansion at Heathrow was given the government’s recommendation in October after years of delays and dithering; however, the project could face years of legal wrangling before construction can even begin in earnest.

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