CAMMELL Laird has launched its campaign to win a share of the £16bn contract to support the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

The Birkenhead shipyard is among 65 potential sites in the running to participate in off-site construction of the proposed new airport.

A delegation from Heathrow Airport was joined by metro mayor Steve Rotheram on Friday as they toured three long-listed sites across Merseyside in the running to participate in the off-site construction.

Cammell Laird has both its Campbeltown Road and Beaufort Road sites listed alongside Peel Ports Investments' Port of Liverpool.

It is believed, if both successful, they both will work together as a partnership.

Cammell Laird's energy division managing director Jonathan Brown said the company was able to bring heavyweight political support to the visit, a key factor in Heathrow’s requirements.

He added: "We believe we have a very strong bid and to have the Metro mayor Steve Rotherham, LEP (Liverpool Enterprise Partnership) chairman Asif Hamid and chief executive Mark Basnett plus Wirral council's leader Phil Davies here to present to the delegation underlined just how serious we are.

"Heathrow's expansion is a nationally significant project and we want to secure a role for our business and for the Liverpool City Region.

Wirral Globe:

Cammell Laird's energy division managing director Jonathan Brown

"Few other companies can match our history, innovation, highly skilled workforce, supply chain, facilities and coastal location.

"We have a proven track record of being the primary contractor on major multi-million pound projects like the RRS Sir David Attenborough polar ship.

"Our bid is fully supported by our partnership with Peel and its ports and logistics infrastructure on Merseyside."

Outlining the prime strengths that make Laird's bid stand out Mr Brown said: "First, ours is a bid rooted in expertise and experience.

"We are not a start-up, our proposal is an extension of the services we already provide.

"Second, is skills. We took the delegation to the engineering college, neighbouring the Cammell Laird site and demonstrated the quality of skilled workers and training provision that the region already has in place.

"Our third strength is Liverpool City Region's commitment to become 'the place' that specialises in offsite modular construction in-line with UK's Industrial Strategy.

"This includes our regional commitment to a low carbon economy further supporting Heathrow's desire to reduce the carbon footprint of its expansion."

Lord Deighton, chairman at Heathrow Airport, said: "Heathrow expansion is a national infrastructure project that will benefit the whole country, including right across the North West, so it is hugely exciting to have a delegation from Heathrow in the region as part of the latest stage of our nationwide tour of potential Logistics Hubs locations.

"We are working in partnership with local employers, councils and entrepreneurs to support new opportunities for the region arising from Heathrow expansion through new jobs, economic growth and easier and faster journeys to and from Heathrow and the North West."