Anglesey Airport

Portakabin was awarded the £1m contract to build the new purpose-designed airport terminal. Project managed by Turner & Townsend and designed by MAP Architects, the scheme was manufactured off-site using the Portakabin Design and Build solution. Ten steel-framed modules were produced at the company’s production centre in York, then delivered to site and craned into position over two days. The single-storey building was designed to minimise any 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 was completed only four months after work started on site. It comprises a baggage reclaim area, departures lounge, check-in desks, offices, visitor information and security facilities. Externally, it is clad in smooth red-faced brickwork, with vertical timber cladding at higher levels. Chris Elmer, Terminal Manager at Operon, says: “This is a great building to work in from an operator’s perspective. It is constructed to high standards and is easy to maintain and very serviceable."

Twice daily return flights now operate during the week between Cardiff and Anglesey, making use of existing runways, control towers and fire service facilities at RAF Valley.

Dewi Roberts, Principal Officer – Transportation at Anglesey Council, adds: “This is the first time this department has used off-site construction and we are impressed with the approach. The project was easy to manage and you would never know this is a modular building.”