When complete in 2027, eight new aircraft gates adjacent to the airport’s runways will enable seven and a half million passengers to alight and depart directly onto aircraft each year. The new gates will also remove the need to coach over 500,000 passengers to remote stands, saving 12,000 bus journeys a year, the airport said.

Design revisions saw the width of the building reduced, while relocating a service road facilitated a two-storey building, rather than three. These changes will deliver an approximate 40% saving in embodied carbon, by moving to a hybrid steel and timber frame structure, re-designing ventilation systems to use less ductwork and plant, and changing finishes will deliver another 20% saving. The project is on track to achieve BREEAM ratings of “Excellent” (Overall) and “Outstanding” (Energy and water). 

Mace will build the extension to Pier 6. It also built the airport’s pioneering 197m airbridge and original Pier 6 in 2005 and will once again lead a challenging build in the middle of one of world’s busiest airfields. Mace worked with WSP and Pascall & Watson to complete the engineering and architectural design. Enabling works are being carried out by PJ Hegarty.

Cedric Laurier, chief technical officer, London Gatwick, said: “This build is complex as it’s right in the heart of our airfield, but we’re experienced in delivering major projects in challenging environments at London Gatwick. The partnership and experience from Mace will be invaluable. Our teams are already working side-by-side to deliver what we think is a cutting-edge design for an airport building in terms of embodied carbon savings. 

“Once complete, more than seven million passengers will have a seamless airport experience, and our airlines will benefit from improved airfield efficiency as the extended pier is located conveniently beside the airport’s runway.”

Pier 6 rendering LGW

The extended Pier 6 will have an additional eight aircraft gates