Lanes masterplan report to go in front of councillors next month

A REPORT which should detail the recommended way forward for the Lerwick Lanes area is expected to go in front of councillors next month.

It comes after a public consultation held earlier this year on the Lerwick Lanes masterplan.

Parking the topic of the day as Lerwick Community Council discusses lanes masterplan progress

Shetland Island Council’s housing manager Anita Jamieson said this week: “We got a completed report on time and within budget, so there’s a report going up to the development committee at the end of May, with some decisions to be made on that.”

Three options which juggled housing, parking and green space had been put forward by Edinburgh-based architects 7N for consultation as possible ideas for the future development of the site.

The area in question includes the old swimming pool car park, part of Pitt Lane and the space currently occupied by the Park Lane community garden.

A primary factor in the decision to explore options for the area is the SIC’s housing along Pitt Lane, which are ageing.

The council went for a masterplan to take a fresh look at the site as a whole rather than focus solely on the housing units.

A key point of focus from the public which cropped up during consultation – and on social media – was retaining spaces at the old swimming pool car park.