Morgan Ashurst has secured the second phase of the £50m North Terminal Extension at Gatwick airport

The project, which will provide extra baggage reclaim halls and new check-in areas, was widely believed to be going to phase one contractor Costain under a BAA framework.

In October, a week before Gatwick’s sale to US investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners, BAA made an offer to Morgan Ashurst, which was approved by GIP this month.

A source close to the negotiations said: “Costain was awarded the previous phase, but it was re-tendered when BAA changed its procurement strategy.”