Page 85 - HUB-4 Issue 98

Bulk Handling
Holcim UK supplies 35,000 tonnes of aggregates
to Luton Airport runway resurfacing
Holcim UK, a leading supplier of sustainable
building materials, has successfully delivered
35,000 tonnes of high-quality aggregates for the
resurfacing of the main runway at London Luton
Airport.
Working in partnership with specialist contractor Lagan
Aviation & Infrastructure, Holcim supplied approximately
28,000 tonnes in aggregates from its Bardon Hill quarry in
Leicestershire and a further 7,000 tonnes from its Garside
Sands Aggregate Plant in Leighton Buzzard to accommodate
this large-scale, time-sensitive project.
Lagan Aviation used the aggregates delivered by Holcim to
produce specially engineered Marshall asphalt, which it then
applied to the runway for creating the new surfacing.
The planings removed from the old runway surface were
transported to Holcim’s Aggregate Plant in Croft, to be
recycled and used in its circular asphalt products. As part of its
commitment to circularity within the construction industry,
Holcim recycles construction demolition materials (CDM) for
reuse in new sustainable products, thereby maximising
resources, minimising waste, and reducing carbon emissions.
The £18 million runway resurfacing programme, which began
in November 2025 and was completed in March of this year,
marks the first full renewal of the 1.3-mile runway since 2006.
Under UK aviation safety requirements, major runways
typically require resurfacing every 20 years to remain
compliant and safe for aircraft operations.
Because London Luton Airport operates around the clock, the
construction team worked within a nightly window of only five
hours and 44 minutes before the runway was returned to
service for the first departures of the morning. This limited
access required meticulous planning, precise execution and
consistent supply reliability.
Each night, approximately 15 centimetres of the existing
surface was removed and replaced with a new high-
performance asphalt layer engineered to withstand heavy
aircraft loads and varying weather conditions throughout the
year.
Holcim has previously worked with Lagan Aviation, having
supplied materials from its Bardon Hill site to several other
major runway resurfacing projects across the UK, including at
London Stansted Airport and RAF Wittering.
Gareth Pugh, Director of Aggregates for the Midlands Region
at Holcim UK, said: “This project is a powerful example of how
our sector-focused approach is delivering real results.
“Supplying the materials on a just-in-time basis, we’ve
supported Lagan’s tight project schedules while minimising
risk. Our approach has also halved CO2 emissions through
smarter haulage and kept old planings in use, contributing to a
more circular construction process.
“Both our Bardon Hill and Leighton Buzzard sites have been
outstanding throughout, and this success shows exactly what
our teams and partners can achieve collaboratively”
Brandi Davey, Project Manager at Lagan Aviation &
Infrastructure, said: “Holcim had a clear understanding of our
project goals, and worked with the Lagan team to meet our
tight deadlines.
“Challenging weather brought change, which Holcim was able
to react to in a positive way. The reuse of planings, and using
the same vehicles for delivering aggregates, reduced the
number of vehicles travelling in and out of the local
community.
“The quality of the service, and the products used for the
asphalt, remained high throughout the project, enabling us to
finish on time.”
www.hub-4.com May/June - Issue 98
| p85 |