Home from home at Glensanda

Modular buildings from Portable Offices provide comfort for workers at remote Scottish superquarry

WHITWICK Engineering have taken delivery of several portable buildings from Chester-based Portable Offices to accommodate their workers at the Glensanda superquarry, on Scotland’s isolated Morvern peninsula.

Situated off the coast of Oban, such is the remoteness of Glensanda that there is no road or rail link to the quarry. The only practical access is by boat from the shores of Loch Linnhe.

As a result, some of Whitwick Engineering’s workforce working on ‘Project Highlander’ – the latest phase in the superquarry’s development – remain isolated for weeks at a time with few facilities or entertainment apart from fishing and wildlife.

For Portable Offices, the requirement for six new twin-sleeper units presented them an opportunity to demonstrate the versatility of their portable accommodation, which features well-insulated rooms with oil-fired radiators.

Additional units were ordered to provide comfortable, state-of-the-art facilities, including washrooms, changing areas, toilets, full canteen facilities, offices and meeting rooms, and a large drying room to accommodate wet working gear.

Providing a warm area for respite from the often cold and wet conditions on site, the workers can now relax and undertake essential administration tasks away from the exposed outdoor conditions.

Nick Corden, project manager with Whitwick Engineering, commented: ‘I was impressed with the professionalism of the Portable Offices’ team. They understood our needs and provided a superior product at a competitive price.

‘It was a massive undertaking and the team responded to the challenges of the brief and the site with great professionalism. They even provided a maintenance pack with spare heaters and lights, and fitted all the units with external isolators. The attention to detail was a great comfort.’

Adrian Witty, managing director of Portable Offices, added: ‘We have become experts in modular logistics and will go to great lengths to make a contract a success. It was great to be a part of such a prestigious development.’