{"id":6944,"date":"2025-07-31T06:47:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T06:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/?p=6944"},"modified":"2025-07-31T06:47:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T06:47:00","slug":"arora-and-bechtel-pitch-rival-heathrow-expansion-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/arora-and-bechtel-pitch-rival-heathrow-expansion-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Arora and Bechtel pitch rival Heathrow expansion plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Billionaire hotel entrepreneur Surinder Arora has officially entered the race to expand Heathrow Airport unveiling a rival proposal to the operator\u2019s own scheme.<\/p>\n<p>Dubbed Heathrow West, the new terminal and runway plan is being submitted to Government this week after a decade of development and aims to deliver a new Terminal 6 and 2,800m runway at the UK\u2019s biggest airport.<\/p>\n<p>Working with US engineering giant Bechtel, the Arora Group, which is one of Heathrow&#8217;s largest landowners, said the proposal avoided costly and complex works over the M25 \u2013 a key sticking point in the airport\u2019s own expansion plans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-mpu ad-mpu-inline\">\n<div class=\"sleeve\"><a data-ad-id=\"476434\" href=\"http:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/constructionenquirer\/adclick.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.reg.buzz%2Foffsite-expo-2025%2Fconstructionenquirer%3Futm_source%3Dconstruction-enquirer%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign%3Dconstructionenq-ads\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"track_ad_click(this);\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/offsite expo MPU.gif\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The new runway could be fully operational by 2035, with Terminal 6 delivered in two phases (T6A by 2036 and T6B by 2040).<\/p>\n<p>The proposal is the first of its kind to be invited by Government as a competing option for Heathrow expansion \u2013 breaking the precedent of exclusivity for the airport operator.<\/p>\n<div class=\"break-out-box\">\n<h3>Key features of Heathrow West<\/h3>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_500168\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-22.34.54.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-500168 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-22.34.54.png\" alt=\"Aurora Bechtel Heathrow West\" width=\"2186\" height=\"1398\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Terminal 6 interior<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul data-start=\"1865\" data-end=\"2128\">\n<li data-start=\"1865\" data-end=\"1907\">\n<p data-start=\"1867\" data-end=\"1907\">Terminal 6 to sit west of Terminal 5<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1908\" data-end=\"1943\">\n<p data-start=\"1910\" data-end=\"1943\">No need to build over the M25<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1944\" data-end=\"1998\">\n<p data-start=\"1946\" data-end=\"1998\">Faster delivery and reduced environmental impact<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1999\" data-end=\"2053\">\n<p data-start=\"2001\" data-end=\"2053\">10-year build window for new runway and terminal<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2054\" data-end=\"2128\">\n<p data-start=\"2056\" data-end=\"2128\">Modular and off-site construction to reduce footprint and disruption<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Arora has created a dedicated delivery vehicle, Heathrow West Ltd, to steer the project, with Bechtel as lead partner. Supporting firms include Scott Brownrigg, Doig+Smith, Haskoning and NACO.<\/p>\n<p>The Arora\/Bechtel team said the proposal is built around cost certainty, constructability and speed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-22.35.35.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-500170\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-22.35.35.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2104\" height=\"1456\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By avoiding major disruption to the motorway and keeping most works within the airport boundary, the scheme aims to outpace Heathrow\u2019s operator-led plan.<\/p>\n<p>Carlton Brown, ceo of Heathrow West, said the project would work \u201ccollaboratively with airlines, communities and government\u201d and promised lower construction risk and better value for money for users.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_500171\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-07-31-at-08.16.46-scaled.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-500171 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-07-31-at-08.16.46-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1161\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">New Terminal 6 will be built next to the existing Terminal 5 in two phase<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The team said Heathrow West is targeting BREEAM Excellent for both construction and operations, with plans to restore the local river, introduce green buffers, and enhance active travel links.<\/p>\n<p>Surinder Arora said: \u201cI am proud to unveil the Heathrow West proposal which meets the UK\u2019s ambition to grow its only hub airport while delivering on time and on budget.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Government\u2019s decision to invite competition rather than hand exclusivity to the incumbent is common sense \u2013 and we\u2019re ready to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-mpu ad-mpu-inline\">\n<div class=\"sleeve\"><a data-ad-id=\"462809\" href=\"http:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/constructionenquirer\/adclick.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vpgroundforce.com%2Fgb%2Fpipe-stoppers%2F%3Futm_source%3Dconstruction-enquirer%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign%3Dconstructionenq-ads\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"track_ad_click(this);\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/stoppers SS PTS MPU Ad 300_250px.gif\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Department for Transport is expected to review competing plans later this year as part of its drive to secure planning approval for Heathrow expansion before the next General Election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Heathrow Airport Ltd is also set submit its own expansion plan to the government today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It had planned to create a third runway by rerouting the M25 motorway between junctions 14 and 15 through a tunnel under the new runway. The airport operator is now also said to be considering a shorter third runway.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-mpu ad-mpu-inline\">\n<div class=\"sleeve\"><a data-ad-id=\"494661\" href=\"http:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/constructionenquirer\/adclick.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrand-accesssolutions.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dconstruction-enquirer%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign%3Dconstructionenq-ads\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"track_ad_click(this);\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/brand slower ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker.gif\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-mpu ad-mpu-inline\">\n<div class=\"sleeve\"><a data-ad-id=\"499819\" href=\"http:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/themes\/constructionenquirer\/adclick.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgemech.co.uk%2F%3Futm_source%3Denquirer%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign%3Dsummer_banner%3Futm_source%3Dconstruction-enquirer%26utm_medium%3Dbanner%26utm_campaign%3Dconstructionenq-ads\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"track_ad_click(this);\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/gemech mpu.gif\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>from Construction Enquirer https:\/\/ift.tt\/wHjgkKX<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Billionaire hotel entrepreneur Surinder Arora has officially entered the race to expand Heathrow Airport unveiling a rival proposal to the operator\u2019s own scheme. Dubbed Heathrow West, the new terminal and runway plan is being submitted to Government this week after a decade of development and aims to deliver a new Terminal 6 and 2,800m runway [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-6944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-construction-enquirer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6944"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6945,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6944\/revisions\/6945"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cita.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}