Community / Brevik House work expected to get underway next year
DEMOLITION work is expected to start on Brevik House in Lerwick next year to pave the way for the construction of 33 homes – but only once “all Covid related obstacles are cleared”.
An application for a building warrant for the homes was submitted last week.
The development will include a mix of one and two bedroom flats, three bedroom semis and five bedroom detached houses, with properties for sale as well as for let.
It is thought that work would have been well underway if it was not for the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
NHS Shetland’s Covid-19 testing pod is currently located just outside the Brevik building but site owner Breiwick Bay Properties Ltd said it is happy to continue to provide free use of the area in the meantime.
“Covid has created a number of unforeseen issues, including shortages of building materials and lenders effectively shutting up office to new customers while they deliver government backed Covid assistance,” a spokesperson for Breiwick Bay Properties Ltd said.
“With over 100 expressions of interest in the 33 units, the plan is still to develop in 2021, but that will only be done once all Covid related obstacles are cleared.
“In the meantime, the site owners are happy to be providing NHS with free use of the site for its testing centre, while Shetland Solidarity with Refugees also continue to enjoy free use of a large part of the building to store donations.”
A hotel was originally planned for the site but Premier Inn pulled out of proposals to build a 98-room hotel on the site last year, leading to the developer refocusing on housing.
Brevik House, located opposite the Gilbert Bain Hospital, was built in 1886.
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