Farnborough Airport

Gill Civil delivered approximately 55,000m² of PQC and over 1,000lm of drainage across key airside areas at Farnborough Airport, completing the works two months ahead of schedule while maintaining live operations.

Project Overview and Scope

Gill Civil delivered the Project Gloster works at Farnborough Airport, involving largescale installation of Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) and drainage across key airside areas, including aprons, hangars, and the control tower. Scope included mobilisation of an on-site batching plant and UKAS testing laboratory, installation of approximately 55,000m² of PQC (300-350mm thick), and over 1,000lm of F900 Gatic slot drainage with associated chambers, all in compliance with Specification 033. Gill Civil also supported the redesign of the scheme using lean construction principles, including higher-grade flexural PQC and revised slot drain solutions based on previous project experience.

Challenges and Execution

Delivered within a live airside environment, the works required strict safety compliance, phased delivery, and close co-ordination with airport operations to ensure functionality was maintained throughout the construction period. Additional challenges included bespoke pavement design requirements, large-scale concrete operations, and co-ordination across multiple work areas. These were managed through detailed planning, on-site trials, continuous quality control, and close collaboration with stakeholders and the supply chain.

Benefits and Outcomes

The project was completed two months ahead of schedule, enabling early return to operations and delivering cost savings. Early engagement with the design team enabled value engineering and lean construction solutions, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and optimising concrete volumes while maintaining specification compliance. On-site production and rigorous QA ensured a durable, high performance airfield pavement and drainage system.