Cappagh Insights
Cappagh Takes Flight on £1 Million Heathrow Northern Runway Rehabilitation Project
Night-time precision works at the UK's busiest airport
Cappagh is flying high with a £1 million contract working with lead contractor Volker Fitzpatrick on major works as part of Heathrow Airport's Northern Runway Rehabilitation Project — one of the most demanding airside contracts in the UK.
The works include the breaking out and removal of 5,000 cubic metres of concrete, as well as completing all main earthworks on the A12, A10w, A11 and A13 sections of the Northern Runway. The Cappagh team mobilised to site in September 2025, deploying 35-tonne and 21-tonne excavators with breakers, a D5 dozer, rollers, low loaders and six tippers per shift. All concrete and soft materials are removed each night and taken to Cappagh's recycling facility at Stanwell.
Because both runways remain fully operational during the day, all works are carried out at night, with the entire runway handed back to airport operations by 5.30am ready for the first aircraft to land at 6.30am.
Scott Nicol, Director at Cappagh, said: "After nearly 18 years of carrying out civil earthworks at Heathrow Airport, we are very experienced in what we do. Our clients rely on our experience, flexibility and resourcefulness to successfully deliver their complicated contracts airside."
Cappagh currently holds 13 separate live sub-contracts across the airport with delivery integrators including Ferrovial, Oliver Connell, Volker Fitzpatrick and M Group. Looking ahead, Heathrow has £49 billion expansion plans, including the Government's preferred option for a North-Western third runway.
