Ten Scottish sites are in the running to host the logistics hub which will participate in the off-site construction of a new runway for the airport, generating 16,000 new jobs in Scotland.

Officials have concluded a nationwide tour of the sites under consideration which will now be asked to expand their bids and complete a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ).

The sites will have until 18 January 2019 to showcase why they should be involved in the delivery of Britain’s biggest infrastructure project. A shortlist of potential logistics hubs will be announced in spring 2019, before the final four sites are announced later in the year.

The sites in Scotland are:

• Babcock Marine Rosyth Limited, Rosyth Business Park
• Forth Ports Limited, Forth Ports Rosyth
• Glasgow Prestwick Airport
• Renfrewshire Council, Eurocentral / Mossend
• Renfrewshire Council, Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA)/Westway site
• Renfrewshire Council, Queenslie Industrial Estate
• Scottish Enterprise, Hunterston
• Scottish Enterprise, Longannet
• Scottish Enterprise, Mossend
• Scottish Enterprise, Westfield

Heathrow said each of the 65 sites offer their own unique elements to the project, from their location, transport links, local skills and supply chain, size, regional expertise and business plans, all of which will be considered by Heathrow’s expansion team when deciding which sites will make the final four.

Heathrow will also examine each site’s ability to work with three other locations to deliver the third runway. The expansion project will have four sites either assembling components of the expanded airport or serving as a consolidation centre for these loads before they are transported to Heathrow helping to reduce the project’s impact to local communities.

Of the potential sites, 50 are existing or functioning sites, many of which are already experienced in delivering major projects. The other 15 sites are either undeveloped or proposed facilities with the potential for additional flexibility and customisation, essentially allowing for these sites to be built for purpose.

Heathrow’s executive director for expansion, Emma Gilthorpe, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to engage with site promoters that are passionate about creating a lasting legacy. These responses will help us understand which sites will best work for the expansion programme as well as for future construction projects. 

“When we began this search last year, we were inspired by just how many locations up and down the country were interested in playing a role in delivering the third runway. This shows the great potential there is for offsite construction to revolutionise the way major infrastructure is delivered in the UK.”