Council / Accommodation camp in the pipeline for Fair Isle harbour upgrade contractors
THE POPULATION of Fair Isle is set to get a temporary boost next year as workers arrive to work on a harbour upgrade.
Planning permission has now been submitted to Shetland Islands Council for 25 temporary accommodation cabins on land in the south end of the island.
The existing ‘Puffin’ building adjacent to the proposed site would also be renovated and act as a canteen for the visiting staff.
Contractor BAM Nuttall is also said to be liaising with local accommodation providers to minimise the temporary accommodation requirement.
BAM has been awarded a contract from Shetland Islands Council to undertake work next year on upgrading the island’s North Haven harbour to allow a new, larger Fair Isle ferry to berth.
The team will make use of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory for accommodation from mid-February to mid-May, but availability is lacking in the summer months through to October.
Although there are 25 cabins proposed, projections highlight that the number of people using the temporary accommodation will vary.
These projections show that only in July and August will there be more than 20 people requiring accommodation.
It is expected the camp would be demobilised in October 2026.
A planning submission says the temporary one-bedroom cabins will be transported by boat from Lerwick to Fair Isle.
It adds that the cabins will be anchored to bog mats by weighted ton bags and straps.
A new septic tank and soak away will be installed to service the camp, while there would also be a couple generators.
Once the camp is operational, there will be two mini buses and one small van than will transport the workforce between the site and the harbour.
The Puffin building, owned by Fair Isle custodian National Trust for Scotland, will be renovated and it is said that these works will “leave a legacy” for the community.
The planning statement’s conclusion said: “The proposed temporary accommodation are urgently required to enable operatives to be suitably and safely housed during the construction of the ferry terminal upgrade works, which is regarded as a vital component in the island’s infrastructure and a key asset in the sustained economic development of the Fair Isle community.”
Work has already begun on a new Fair Isle ferry in England, while a harbour upgrade at Grutness on the Shetland mainland is also underway.
The anticipated total cost of the project to replace the vessel and upgrade necessary harbour infrastructure is £45.4 million, funded by £18.6 million from the council and a grant of £26.8 million from the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up Fund’.
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