Gerry Whyte has been leading the preconstruction phase at the retail expansion of Brent Cross

A big-hitter from Laing O’Rourke is set to to lead the £600m transformation of Stansted Airport.

Gerry Whyte has been named as delivery director for the scheme by Stansted Airport.

Whyte most recently held the post of pre-construction director at Laing O’Rourke, leading the team through the pre-construction phase of the retail expansion of Brent Cross.

But over the summer the scheme was put on ice by developer Hammerson for a second time.

The scheme was initially due to start on site in July but that date was then pushed back to January 2019.

But over the summer, the developer admitted there was no clear time line for works to begin blaming “the current turbulence in the UK retail markets”.

Before leading the Brent Cross scheme Whyte, who spent 16 years at Laing O’Rourke, worked on some of the UK’s largest developments including the Edinburgh St James retail scheme and the Liverpool One regeneration scheme in the middle of the city.

He took up his new post, which reports to airport chief executive Ken O’Toole, this week.

The £600m transformation of London Stansted includes a new arrivals terminal which is due to open in 2020 and the reconfiguration of the existing terminal into a departures only facility.

It also includes a revamped retail and restaurant offering, more seating, as well as new car parks and airfield infrastructure.

Earlier this year architect Pascall & Watson confirmed its appointment to deliver the new £130m arrivals terminal (pictured) , while a joint venture between Mott MacDonald and Ramboll has been appointed as design engineers for both the new arrivals terminal and the redevelopment of the Norman Foster-designed existing terminal.