WORK has started on a £500,000 contract to supply refurbished portable buildings for use as a new youth centre in Hampshire.

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, part of the Huntington-headquartered Portakabin Group, has started work on its fifth contract for Hampshire County Council in the last year after securing a bid to supply a youth centre for the market town of Romsey.

Commenting on the project, Ricky Barford, general manager at Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, which is based in Brandesburton and is the UK's largest supplier of refurbished Portakabin buildings, said: "We are delighted to be involved in the construction of such a valuable community facility. We are also proud to be working on our fifth project for Hampshire County Council in less than a year.

"The cost, speed and environmental benefits of recycled and refurbished modular solutions are proven and far outweigh site-based construction.

"The approach will provide young people and the wider community in this part of Hampshire with a high quality, purpose-designed building for generations to come."

The project is jointly funded by Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council. It is being designed by Hampshire County Council’s Property Services team and built by Foremans.

Foremans is constructing the building from recycled steel modules manufactured by the Portakabin group, which will be fitted out with new fixtures and fittings. This innovative approach will reduce work on site to just 10 weeks so the new facilities will be up and running for use by the local community at a much earlier stage – and with a lower carbon footprint.

Due for completion in Spring this year, the building will be operated by Youth in Romsey, a charitable organisation, following 10 weeks on site by Foremans.

A large activity room, a smaller group room, a consulting room, offices and kitchen will be provided in the centre. Externally, the building will be brick-clad with an integral canopy over the main entrance and solar panels on the roof.

A spokesman for Foremans said: "The refurbishment of modular buildings is one of the most environmentally-sound methods of construction – helping to reduce carbon emissions, waste sent to landfill, and improving a building’s carbon footprint, with no compromise on quality or design flexibility."