Inland Border Facility Decommissioning — Birmingham Airport
Fitzgerald have successfully completed the restoration of a key car park at Birmingham Airport. The scheme involved the demolition of a temporary inland border facility set up by HMRC and the Department for Transport (DfT) during COVID-19. This contained parking areas for HGVs and other vehicles, and security facilities for checking vehicles and goods entering and exiting the site. We then returned the site to its previous use as an airport car park. Restoration works included earthworks, drainage, kerbing, car park lining and signing, street lighting, re-surfacing, and landscaping and finishing. We also installed barrier systems, street furniture and signage, CCTV, and a new bus shelter for airport buses. The 12-acre site is home to 1,998 car spaces with 40 disabled bays.
Timely completion of the 17-week programme was critical for HMRC and DfT, having leased the site from the Airport for two years. Our detailed programme management, proactive procurement, and effective management of the works and supply chain co-ordination ensured this key project constraint was met.
Our collaborative approach with the client and their designer saw us provide more car parking spaces than in the original design. In an additional change from the design, we worked collaboratively with the client team to pre-build the CCTV column bases into the car park. This ensured tarmac and surfacing did not have to be ripped up at a later date to put the bases in, saving money and helping achieve the critical programme date.
Continuing our commitment to carbon reduction, we hosted and facilitated a day run by Brandon Tool Hire to trial the use of innovative battery powered tools and plant. This was attended by over 30 people, with other construction site teams attending.
The works were completed with an excellent safety record and with no impact on airport operations or security.
“I would like to thank all the Fitzgerald team for a job well done at Birmingham Airport. A considerable amount of work was completed in the 3-month programme and was always carried out in a controlled, safe and professional manor. Health and safety on site was good, and quality was excellent with no defects found on final inspection. The project was completed on programme, with the Fitzgerald team adopting a proactive and positive approach throughout.” Stuart Price, Speller Metcalfe.
“Completely satisfied with the work undertaken by Fitzgerald and would be happy to use again and/or recommend to others. Particularly impressed with the site manager Steve Baldwin who ensured the project was delivered to time/cost/quality and resolved queries/concerns quickly and effectively.” Clare Wakefield, HMRC