Plans for a 拢1.5bn terminal at Heathrow East have been thrown into disarray by a breakdown in relations between main contractors Ferrovial and Laing O麓Rourke

A source close to the BAA project, which is known internally as Terminal 2a, said it was 鈥渧irtually impossible鈥� for the terminal to be finished before 2013, its revised completion date.

Foster + Partners and Ferrovial鈥檚 chosen architect Vidal Arquitectos are working in Spain to co-ordinate the design, but it is understood progress has stalled because of the fraught relationship between the two contractors.

The source said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not been easy. There鈥檚 little communication going on between Laing O鈥橰ourke and Ferrovial, and it has slowed down the project.鈥�

As Ferrovial is the owner of BAA, the airport operator is said to be reluctant to intercede between the two.

Another source said the contractors were arguing about the best way to build the design. 鈥淭he problem Laing O鈥橰ourke has is that when it doesn鈥檛 do what Ferrovial wants, then Ferrovial pulls rank.鈥�

When Laing O鈥橰ourke doesn鈥檛 do what Ferrovial wants, Ferrovial pulls rank.

Source close to the project

Heathrow East was originally intended to be complete for the London Olympics. BAA said earlier this year it would miss that target, but that the terminal would still be finished in 2012.

It is understood that a midfield pier, known as T2c, designed by Grimshaw and being built by Balfour Beatty, could be partially opened in time for the Olympics.

A BAA spokesperson said: 鈥淎ll contractors involved in the project are fully committed to working together to deliver the programme.鈥�

Laing O鈥橰ourke said: 鈥淭he relationship is working well and we are fully committed to the construction of the Heathrow East terminal.鈥�