Council / SIC to sell off Lerwick property which has been vacant for years
SHETLAND Islands Council is to sell off a property near Lerwick Town Hall which has been sitting vacant since 2016.
Councillors agreed to the disposal of the property at 9 Hill Lane at a meeting on Wednesday.
The SIC bought it in 2011 largely because it was the only property in the area not owned by the council, and it was viewed that completing ownership would help facilitate redevelopment of the area.
Work is now currently ongoing within the council on a Lerwick Lanes redevelopment project, which is looking at the area between the old swimming pool car park and the Park Lane community garden.
But a report to members of the full council said: “It has now been established that 9 Hill Lane is not required as part of redevelopment plans for this area of Lerwick and it is therefore recommended that the property be put on the market for disposal.”
The property is described as a “semi-detached residential town house of traditional stone construction over three floors with a more modern two-storey extension to the front”.
The building has been leased out commercially from time to time, most recently in 2016. But since then, it has remained vacant.
The report to councillors said: “Discussions were held with NHS and Scottish Fire Service, and it was deemed the building was not suitable for multiple occupancy without significant expenditure.
“Had the council proceeded with these works, it would have affected the required rental income, making it unviable. These issues also render the property unsuitable for accommodating agency workers.”
The council’s housing service also advised that due to the layout of 9 Hill Lane it would not be “economically viable or practical” for the property to meet the standards required for SIC housing.
A study was also carried out in the feasibility of turning it into office accommodation, but it was said that given the building standards and fire regulations the conversion costs would be around £135,000.
In December 2023 the roof was also damaged during a storm and was subsequently replaced.
The works included repair and insulation of the first floor walls, the stairwell and ceilings. The chimney copes were also replaced and re-pointing carried out.
Assets manager Robert Sinclair said the cost of repairs was £33,000, but that was covered by insurance.
Meanwhile Shetland North councillor Andrew Hall asked why a sale has not taken place sooner, given the building has been vacant for years.
Sinclair said the “trigger” for the sale now was that the SIC now has a plan for the Hillhead area.
Councillors pick their preferred option as Lerwick Lanes project moves step forward
Hall also said – admittedly somewhat “tongue in cheek” – that he hoped the Brae police station, which the SIC recently bought with government funds for possible future housing development, was not also going to sit for nine years and deteriorate.
SIC leader Emma Macdonald said selling the property seemed to be a “sensible solution”.
“We are always asking our staff to rationalise our estate and dispose of property that we are not requiring,” she said.
“We know there is a need for housing in this area.”
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