Fifty years and counting for housing association

THERE were celebrations at Mareel on Friday evening as Hjaltland Housing Association celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Staff and committee members were joined by contractors, past employees, councillors, community group and tenant forum representatives.

It comes as the association looks ahead to its largest project to date at the Staney Hill in Lerwick, which is set to provide 300 homes.

The association was established in 1975 as a registered society, and later became Hjaltland Housing Association Ltd when the organisation merged with Scottish Airports Ltd in 1980.

It was formed with the specific aim of supporting the council to house workers at Sullom Voe Terminal.

Hjaltland chief executive Bryan Leask said the first houses were built in Sullom, Hillswick and North Roe.

The organisation now has housing schemes across mainland and isles locations, with more than 885 homes.

The most recent additions to the estate were completed in 2024 and included two properties in Ladies Mire, Brae, four homes at Forralea in Walls, six at Marthastoon in Aith and four in the second phase of Berryview in Scalloway.

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Hjaltland said supporting the housing sector in Shetland remains at the core of the organisation with its vision of “providing homes – supporting communities”.

As the association has grown, it has evolved to meet tenant needs with the introduction of tenant groups, the One Stop Shop, Care and Repair Programme, shared ownership and choice-based lettings systems.

Innovative architect designs for some of the association’s housing schemes have also been recognised.

These include awards for developments such as John Jamieson Closs, Da Vadill, Grodians and Houlland Lea.

“We were delighted to welcome so many of our current and past colleagues, tenants and partners to celebrate this milestone anniversary with us,” Leask said.

“Hjaltland Housing Association has gone from strength to strength over the last 50 years and we will continue to strive for quality, affordability and satisfaction in the properties and services we deliver.

“We are all very excited to see the next stage of work commencing at the Staneyhill project, which will be the largest single site scheme in our portfolio, providing safe, energy efficient and welcoming homes to more than 300 new tenancies.”