Turf cut on new social work offices

WORK on building the new £6 million offices for Shetland Islands Council’s social care services is set to commence next week following a turf cutting ceremony on site at the North Ness, on Thursday.

The complex is being developed by Shetland Charitable Trust’s property arm SLAP and then leased to the council on a commercial basis.

Building work will be carried out by local firm Hunter and Morrison who won the contract after a lengthy selection process. The project is expected to be completed by March 2012.

SLAP chairman Jim Henry said: “I am very pleased that we have secured the services of local firm Hunter & Morrisons and I now look forward to seeing progress on this project.”

The 3,000 square metre building will provide much needed space for the isles’ growing social care services, which are currently housed in various offices spread across Lerwick.

It will be a two-wing building with two areas of office accommodation enclosing a glazed fronted social space.

By pursuing a design and build route, SLAP is aiming to construct the office accommodation within budget while still achieving a quality design and a range of facilities, the SLAP spokesman continued.

This project will complement the North Ness business estate which is already managed by the property development company.

SLAP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the charitable trust which holds around £200 million of Shetland’s oil money.