Taylor Woodrow is set to be officially confirmed as the winner of a £150 million contract to construct a new aviation fuel pipeline between Southampton and London. Early construction works will commence later this year, with the main pipeline installation beginning in 2022.
The project will involve the replacement of 90km of an existing 105km pipeline, which currently transports aviation fuel from Fawley Refinery on the Waterside to Esso’s West London Terminal storage facility in Hounslow. The new pipeline will follow a similar route, running through Hampshire and Surrey, with a focus on supporting local economies. Taylor Woodrow will deliver the scheme in joint venture with a specialist division of parent company VINCI, ensuring expertise in pipeline construction and infrastructure development.
Consultant Jacobs is overseeing the project as infrastructure scheme manager. The 30cm-diameter pipeline will be installed in open-cut trenches, each less than one metre wide. To minimise environmental impact, Esso has committed to limiting working site widths to between 20 and 30 metres and will use trenchless technology for crossing road, rail, and river routes. The project aims to improve fuel transportation efficiency while ensuring minimal disruption to surrounding communities and landscapes.
