New flats go ahead

PLANS FOR a dozen new one-bedroom flats on the site of the SIC housing department’s former offices have been unanimously approved.

The local authority’s planning committee waved through Hjaltland Housing Association’s plans for the Fort Road site, as had been expected (see earlier story).

It is adjacent to an ongoing development on the site of former Excelsior/Mooney’s Wake pub and North Star cinema/nightclub, and will deliver a boost to the number of homes available in Lerwick against the backdrop of a lengthy housing waiting list.

“This will provide excellent accommodation,” said SIC planning committee chairman Frank Robertson.

“This will complete the development that was started at Mooney’s Wake, and this next phase goes along Fort Road, takes in an old house that was there and the site of the previous council housing offices.

“It’s very much needed, and also this is within the edge of [a] conservation area and will tidy up an area that’s… needing to be improved.”