Yorkon News Archives

07/02/2007 – Yorkon awarded £1m contract to build new airport terminal

Off-site construction specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has been awarded the £1m contract to build a new purpose-designed airport terminal at Maes Awyr Ynys Mon Anglesey Airport. The building will be used for the first commercial flights to operate from North Wales.

Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, the airport will be owned and run by Isle of Anglesey County Council and is seen as a catalyst for regeneration in the area, and will provide a significant boost for local business and tourism for Anglesey and North West Wales.

Project managed by Turner & Townsend and designed by MAP Architects, the scheme has been manufactured by Yorkon off-site in York and craned into position as 10 steel-framed modules in just two days. The single storey building has been designed to minimise impact on the environment, to provide an attractive new facility for the area and to be easily extended to meet the potential for future expansion.

The new air terminal is due for completion in Spring 2007 – only four months after start on site. It will comprise baggage reclaim, departures lounge, check-in desks, offices, visitor information point, search and security facilities. Yorkon will also provide a 60-space car park, landscaping and fitting out.

The new commercial air services will operate independently on the site of the RAF base at Valley, Anglesey and will make use of existing runways, control towers and fire service facilities.

"The use of the Yorkon off-site approach will maximise the opportunity to complete on time and on budget", said Martin Cross, Project Manager at Turner & Townsend.

"It is very important to have the new airport up and running as early as possible so flights between Cardiff and Anglesey can commence. By moving much of the work into a factory environment, we will be saving around two months on the programme compared to site-based building methods, whilst producing a high quality, attractive building with all the efficiencies of off-site construction."

He added, "This more innovative approach to construction will also allow us to minimise waste, reduce the number of vehicle movements and disruption to the local community and the operation of RAF Valley, which were other key objectives for the project because of its location. Yorkon has considerable experience in airport construction, which was another factor in our decision."

Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks said, "The Welsh Assembly Government considers the new service to be essential for the economic development of North West Wales, providing improved business connectivity, new tourism opportunities and reduced journey time. It will enhance the economic, social and political cohesiveness of Wales."

"We are pleased that such an experienced contractor has been appointed to carry out this work as it is important that an efficient service is provided with as little disruption to the local community and RAF Valley as possible."

Commenting on the design, Claire Sittlington, Project Architect at MAP Architects, said, "The materials we selected have to be sufficiently robust to cope with the harsh weather conditions and also to provide a warm and welcoming building for the public. Externally, the building will be clad predominantly in smooth red-faced brickwork, with vertical timber cladding at the higher levels. Internally the building will be light and airy, as well as highly durable."

Yorkon has an extensive track record in airport construction, having recently completed several projects at London City Airport, as well as Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.