Work on Staneyhill development due to commence

An architect’s image of the proposed terraced housing above the school hostel. Image: HHA

An architect’s image of the proposed terraced housing above the school hostel. Image: HHA

WORK on the infrastructure element of the Staneyhill housing development in Lerwick, which will eventually lead to the construction of 300 new homes over a ten-year period, is set to get under way tomorrow (Monday).

Local civil engineering firm Garriock Bros Ltd won the tender for the three year-contract in August this year.

Designed by Mott MacDonald and PJP Architects, the infrastructure project includes a new spine road and services to enable the future construction of new homes.

The project has been made possible thanks to £19 million of grant funding from the Scottish Government which was announced back in August during a visit of housing minister Paul McLennan to the isles.

Construction on the first phase of housing is expected to commence 18 months into the infrastructure contract, which would be the summer of 2025.

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This first phase will consist of 66 new homes will be built along North Loch Drive and will be a variety of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom properties.

Chair of Hjaltland Housing Association (HHA) Colin Nicholson said he was pleased to see work finally get under way.

“The new infrastructure will not only enable the construction of 300 new homes but also connect areas of Lerwick from North Loch Drive to Staneyhill Road and Wista,” he said.

The project team met with council leader Emma Macdonald for a short turf cutting ceremony earlier in the week.

Left to right: Ian Irvine, Neil Pearson, Colin Nicholson, Emma Macdonald, Bryan Leask, Arthur Robertson and Paul Leask.

Left to right: Ian Irvine, Neil Pearson, Colin Nicholson, Emma Macdonald, Bryan Leask, Arthur Robertson and Paul Leask.

She said: “It is vital we increase the number of modern, affordable homes in Shetland and this development will substantially help that. Supporting the growth of our local communities and our future economic activity”.

Garriock Bros’ contracts director Arthur Robertson added: “This scheme has its own set of challenges which we will endeavour to meet using our skilled workforce and experience gained over the previous 40+ years of working in the Shetland construction industry.”