A ground-breaking project, manufactured off-site by York-based Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon, has won a major industry gong at this year's British Construction Industry Awards.

Yorkon scooped The Best Practice award for the Raines Court Apartments in London, developed by the Peabody Trust, manufactured by Yorkon at its Huntington factory and designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. The main contractor was Wates Construction.

Keith Blanshard, director and general manager of Yorkon, said: "The award is a major accomplishment for everyone involved in this pioneering project. The scheme was another industry first for the client, and for Yorkon, and demonstrates just what can be achieved with good design and the use of modern construction methods.

"As this award shows, off-site building is not only faster, more efficient and better quality but it can produce really exciting, award-winning architecture."

The accolade comes as Portakabin revealed itself as the biggest achiever in the York-based Shepherd Building Group - contributing £17 million in pre-tax profits towards the £30.2 million total - the highest level for more than a decade.

Yorkon continues to break new ground in every sector.Under construction in Somerset is a £9.2million independent treatment centre - the UK's first to be built off-site and Yorkon's largest healthcare project.

Yorkon has also launched a much-hailed design for new school buildings in partnership with Cartwright Pickard Architects. The plans are in response to the Government's Building Schools for the Future initiative, and the concept can be applied to extensions as well as complete new primary or schools.

Updated: 10:08 Tuesday, December 07, 2004