Take-off for development of aircraft hangar

A £1.4 million development of a new aircraft hangar in Cambridgeshire is ready for take-off, with support from Kirkby Diamond.

High-flying aircraft company IAE is expanding its operations with the construction of a 28,299 sq ft maintenance and repair hangar at Little Staughton Airfield, Huntingdonshire.

The scheme has been given planning consent by Huntingdon District Council. Construction is expected to start on site this month (June), reaching practical completion in September.

Jon Green, of Kirkby Diamond, has been appointed in a project management and quantity surveyor role and will lead delivery of IEA’s new facility.

The hangar is constructed using a lattice structure, cold rolled steel frame, and incorporates 30 x 6m 10 panel sliding main doors along withoffices, reception area, crew room, an apron, car parking, and landscaping. The company is also taking a 99-year lease on the adjacent runway.

Mark Pepper, partner and head of building surveying at Kirkby Diamond in Milton Keynes, said: “This is a really interesting project and we are delighted to be involved. IEA is investing heavily in this fantastic new facility which will provide vital support services for aviation across the region.”

Formed in 1997, IAE Ltd is an aviation maintenance company currently based at Cranfield, in Bedfordshire.  Owners Garry Joyce and Andy Baker took control of the company in 2006 as part of a management buy-out and have continued to grow the company into one of the leading maintenance companies in the UK.Andy said: “Garry and I are very pleased to be working with Kirkby Diamond on this important project.”