Modular construction provider Portakabin has won a contract to deliver three separate buildings at a multi-million pound Energy from Waste (EfW) plant in Midlothian.

The Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre is being built by Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) on behalf of FCC Environment, who have signed a 25-year contract with City of Edinburgh and Midlothian councils.

Portakabin is working with Hitachi Zosen Inova and FCC Environment to deliver a visitor centre, welfare area and gatehouse at the site.

The EfW facility, which is set to begin operation by 2019, will treat around 135,000 tonnes of household residual waste a year, and a further 20,000 tonnes of commercial waste a year from which the plant will generate sufficient electricity to satisfy the energy demands of up to approximately 32,000 households in the Edinburgh and Midlothian area.

After developing a comprehensive tender for the project, detailing the aesthetics and benefits of a modular build, Portakabin was chosen as the specialist subcontractor for the visitor centre, welfare area and gatehouse. The modular offering meant Portakabin was able to adapt a standardised format to suit Millerhill’s specific requirements. The Portakabin values and overall attitude to health and safety was endemic to this decision.

A high value contract to deliver the customisable modular system, the buildings will be handed over in early 2018 and will form an important part of the site when the facility opens in 2019.

A modular solution, built off-site by Portakabin, has allowed the team at Millerhill to experience the benefits of moving away from a traditionally built structure. The team were able to inspect the modules before they left the Portakabin manufacturing factory in York which helped visualise any prospective challenges with the final install and fit-out.

With an initial design focussed on traditional construction methods, the Millerhill team were delighted to see that the required high specification of the build could still be met by a Portakabin modular solution.

Andy Smith, project director for FCC Environment, said: “It has been great to see Portakabin and HZI work together on this innovative solution to the buildings required for our new facility at Millerhill. Despite being constructed off-site, it has still been possible to meet the detailed requirements of our existing Planning Permission and to fulfil our operational needs. Our team is looking forward to moving into the new buildings in due course.”

Richard Keane, site manager for HZI, emphasises the advantages of the collaboration: “Their expertise helped us to realise the design under the most efficient and safe conditions. The finished product is excellent and clearly demonstrates the advantages of modular construction.”

Paul Kyle, regional sales manager for Portakabin in Scotland, added: “The benefit of a modular solution delivers an incredibly efficient and safe build. Our focus was to reduce impact and disruption in an already busy location and this in turn will help the Millerhill project reach full operation quickly. We’re delighted HZI and FCC have chosen to support an innovative UK company by working with us on this exciting project.”