Net cleaning facility given planning permission

SHETLAND Islands Council’s planning service has given the green light to proposals for an aquaculture net washing facility at Rova Head in Lerwick.

Planners ruled that the 9,565 square metre site will “not have a significant adverse impact on the natural environment, nor upon the amenity of the surrounding area”.

Developer SNG Aqua – a subsidiary of Swan Net Gundry – previously wanted to build the facility in Toft amid anger from local residents, but the planning service rejected the proposal after deeming it inappropriate for the area.

The Rova Head project – which is estimated to cost around £3 million – would include a drying building around 51m x 29m x 12.5m in size, and a filtration building (approx. 16m x 14m x 8.5m).

There would also be a process area for cleaning nets, which would include an intake pump for seawater and outfall to sea for clean water discharge.

The land pinpointed for the development is located in the industrial area of Rova Head.

SNG Aqua said in its planning documents that it wants to create a “state of the art aquaculture” hub for the industry at Rova Head.