Four sites are in Scotland, with two each in Wales and Northern Ireland. Of the 10 remaining sites only two are in the vicinity of Heathrow in London and the South East.

Shortlisted sites include the Rosyth Dockyard and Mossend international rail freight park north of the border; the Port of Cardiff; a former Michelin site in Northern Ireland and Dalton airfield industrial estate in Yorkshire & Humberside.

Each site will pitch to airport bosses in the autumn for the chance to become one of four construction centres, to be announced early next year, with work due to start in 2021.

Heathrow says it is keen to construct as much of the expanded airport off site as possible to spread economic benefit across the country, better manage costs and improve sustainability. Once assembled, component parts will be transported to Heathrow in consolidated loads.

“Heathrow is committed to creating a plan that delivers for every corner of the UK and logistics hubs are key to achieving that,” says airport expansion director Emma Gilthore. “We are working with other major infrastructure projects to see if they might also benefit from these hubs, creating a bright future for the UK’s construction sector.”

Business Minister Lord Henley added: “Spreading the social and economic benefits of major infrastructure development across the UK is to be applauded.”

• Formal judgment is expected to be delivered by the High Court this month following a judicial review of the Transport Secretary’s decision to back plans for Heathrow’s third runway. Five cases have been heard against the designation of the Airports National Policy Statement. Key concerns include the air quality and noise impacts of the airport’s expansion.

(Image: Heathrow Airports Ltd)