Ocean Kinetics takes on Bruce Hostel to restore it to former glory
THE HISTORIC Bruce Hostel at the former Anderson High School site is set to be restored to its former glory with the development of eight one- and two-bedroom flats.
Local marine engineering firm Ocean Kinetics has been successful in securing the building from Shetland Islands Council, it was confirmed to Shetland News today (Friday).
The B-listed former hostel was put up for sale by the SIC in March this year.
Councillors accepted an offer from Ocean Kinetics during the private section of last week’s meeting of the full council.
Shetland News understands there were bids from two other parties interested in buying the building.
Ocean Kinetics’ managing director John Henderson said the hope was to preserve the iconic building for the next 100 years.
He added that the aim was to create “top quality accommodation for key workers”.
Once the sale has gone through, Henderson estimates the legal, design and planning phase could take 18 months – followed by two to three years of construction work.
Local architect Alan McKay has been engaged to oversee the design and construction.
Henderson said: “The intended use of the building is to develop flats for short-term residential accommodation.
“This will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats all finished to a high standard with more affordable units on the upper floors. This will ensure availability to all sectors, especially key workers.
“Although the company core business is not in restoring old buildings we have built and refurbished buildings in the past to a high standard, restoring the Bruce Hostel is very much about Ocean Kinetics preserving a piece of history. “Shetland has been good to us, and we want to give something back.”
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He added: “The design approach shown on the drawings and sketch proposals is to preserve, renovate and reinstate the building to be in sympathy with its original style and features as far as possible.
“Close consultation and collaboration with the local planning department and Historic Scotland will be required to ensure the character of the B-Listed building is respected.”
Externally, the proposals are to repair crumbing stonework features, clean up the facades from all unnecessary foul drainage pipework, restore windows that have been altered back to their original state and generally bring the building back to its former glory.
The old main entrance and area around the staircase shall be restored and used as a communal area for residents, the company said.
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