Customer: London Borough of Newham Council

Location: Canning Town, East London

Requirement: The Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration department of the London Borough of Newham Council is responsible for the £3.9bn regeneration of Canning Town in East London. To kickstart the project, the department needed a landmark building that would symbolise this major rebuilding programme and give local people a focal point for information, advice and community services.

Solution: As an accredited supplier of Buying Solutions - an executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce - Portakabin had already been independently adjudged to offer quality and best value to the public sector. The leading modular building supplier's quality buildings and on-time, on-budget pledge secured the contract - and the Portakabin team quickly set about developing a building that would fulfil the architect's vision.

Alexis Adonis, Regeneration Officer at Newham Council, says: "Portakabin were very good at keeping us informed of progress throughout the project. We were working to a particularly tight timescale, so it was essential that the building was completed as quickly as possible. Portakabin gave us all the reassurance we needed that it would be installed on time and I'm delighted to say that it was delivered right on schedule."

With its unique Customer Charter, Portakabin gives all of its customers the assurance that their buildings will be delivered on time and on budget. Its proven track record of delivering 99.6% of facilities on time and on budget* is further backed up by the promise that if Portakabin ever fails to meet the contract start date, it will provide an additional 12 months' product warranty, free of charge.**

The new building in Canning Town, called The Place, is constructed from 12 Portakabin Ultima building modules, which provide exceptional quality accommodation and outstanding thermal efficiency. The building houses numerous offices and meeting rooms for the council staff and local police teams who will be based there, as well as kitchen areas, toilets, a locker room and storage space. A spacious, open-plan reception area with a community café welcomes visitors to the building and provides a meeting place and information area. A new public-sector employment agency - Workplace - is also housed in the building, providing training, skills and recruitment services for local residents.

Portakabin provided a complete turn-key package, which included project management, groundworks, service connections and a full climate-control system. The building was decorated in striking pink and green colours, with a huge sign running along the side, clearly signalling the building as a source of information and assistance to everyone in the area.

Alexis continues: "We are very happy with the building and everyone who visits is amazed by the space it provides. It feels very airy too. The building is located on a large demolition site, which has been beautifully landscaped by Portakabin to create an open, green oasis in the middle of this urban area."

*Based on Portakabin order analysis for January 2004 - June 2008.

**Terms and Conditions apply. A copy is available on request.