Heathrow perimeter road hardening

Our team has upgraded the security of Heathrow’s perimeter fencing.

We were retained by client Morgan Sindall to provide this security project for Heathrow Airports Limited.

VGC installed foundations to upgrade the existing security perimeter fencing, and for additional security gates and bollards for hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM).

Scope of works

• Excavate and install over 350 linear metres of steel reinforced pavement quality (PQ) concrete foundation.

• Excavate and install PQ concrete bases for 15 x security gates and 50 x security bollards.

In total we poured over 635m3 of PQ concrete, meeting the stringent quality requirements of Morgan Sindall and Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL).

The HOSP (hardening of security perimeter) project included both landside and airside works.

VGC processed airside passes for all project staff and operatives using our HAL-authorised internal pass application team.

We held regular project progress meetings with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the works did not impact on normal airport operations.

Commended by client

The project’s biggest challenge was buried services, some of which were uncharted.

Our project team planned all work meticulously to reduce this risk. This planning, and our implementation of safe systems of work, led to regular commendations by the client.

Morgan Sindall’s utilities protection co-ordinator at Heathrow wrote to thank John Winters, Martin Williams, Afrim Cakini and Pat Coyne for their attitude to safety:

I was again impressed with your operatives’ attitude to safe digging practices on site, as I have been throughout the project so far. They stopped works as soon as they had to go away from the method statement. Please pass this feedback to rest of the team.