26 February 2014
Portakabin Launches New Planning and Building Control Service to Simplify Building Procurement
Portakabin Hire has launched a new Planning and Building Control Service to manage the Building Regulations and planning process for the supply of interim modular buildings.
The new service offers a complete time-saving solution to help customers in both the public and private sectors obtain planning permission and building control approval for accommodation supplied by Portakabin. This is in response to the growing demand from customers following the introduction of increasingly complex regulations.
Planning permission and Building Control approval, which specifies the minimum building requirements for a new structure, is required for any development on site for more than 28 days.
As part of the launch of the new service, Portakabin has appointed two specialist managers, for the north and south of the country, and will assign an agent from its dedicated team to guide each project through the process. The Portakabin team will undertake:
- A one-to-one site visit to ensure all aspects of the process are covered
- Calculating and managing fees chargeable by each local authority
- Completing a site survey and illustration to ensure all information for the planning application is available and included
- Completing the planning application forms
- Producing the required site and elevation drawings
- Completing a detailed design and access statement
- Managing all technical queries from the local authority's Building Control department
- Following the application through to final decision.
Robert Snook, Director and General Manager of Portakabin Hire, said, "The process of achieving planning permission and Building Control approval has become increasingly complex and time consuming for our customers in recent years, with local authorities now taking a variety of wider issues, such as the potential for flooding, into consideration."
"Whilst we can never guarantee any approval, our team is experienced and informed and works hard to minimise the risk of planning applications being declined. We are also proud that in an impressive 98 per cent of cases where we have acted as agent for our customers, we have succeeded in achieving both planning and Building Control approval, which means our customers benefit from their accommodation being in place much sooner."
Portakabin manufactures a wide range of buildings for both interim and permanent applications and has the widest Hire and Visitor Centre network in the UK. It can deliver bespoke projects and standardised accommodation solutions in the most challenging timescales, with less disruption and less impact on the environment. The new Planning and Building Control Service is the latest initiative designed to offer clients peace of mind by offering a turnkey service from planning through to occupation.
For further information about Portakabin buildings for interim applications, visit www.portanews.co.uk, email information@portakabin.co.uk or call 0845 401 0010.
Editor's Notes
1. Portakabin is a registered trademark.
2. Portakabin modular buildings have a range of features and advantages, including:
- The facility to accommodate more than 1,000 staff
- Manufacture to permanent building standards and in line with the latest Building Regulations
- The option of floor-to-ceiling glazing to maximise natural light, and create attractive and productive working environments
- The use of a robust and technically advanced building system with no internal columns for ease of space planning
- The availability of single and multi-storey configurations to meet specific project requirements
- Programme times reduced by up to 50 per cent
- The provision of buildings with significantly less disruption.
