Council / Plans to turn bakery building into flats
THE FORMER Walls bakery building could be set for a new lease of life as flats.
A planning application has been submitted to turn the ground floor of the vacant building into three flats.
The applicant said the intended use is for long-term rentals which they hope will “take some pressure off the already difficult rental property market” and potentially provide accommodation for key workers.
The Westside bakery closed its doors in 2023 with the loss of nine jobs.
The bakery is said to have experienced challenging trading conditions during the Covid lockdowns which, together with ongoing cost pressures and lack of investment capital, resulted in cashflow pressures.
The building, located next to the village’s shop, then went up for sale as part of an administration process. The planning applicant is listed as Fiona Cooper.
The application says there would be three new ground floor flats, while an existing first floor flat will remain.
A planning statement concluded: “The purpose is to create three high quality, private homes in the quaint and picturesque village of Walls, ensuring the ongoing use of the building and maintaining and enhancing the surrounding area.
“The intended use of the buildings is for long term rentals and the vendors hope that this will take some pressure off the already difficult rental property market allowing Shetland to attract, and, more importantly, retain, key workers such as NHS staff, teachers and council workers to the islands which will ultimately benefit the Islands as a whole.”
If the plans come to fruition it could provide another housing boost to the village of Walls.
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