Town flats get go-ahead

Councillors today gave the go-ahead for 12 new flats to be built at a site in Lerwick’s Fort Road in the town centre.

Members at the planning committee gave unanimous approval for the development by Hjaltland Housing Association, which will involve demolition of a house and the empty offices formerly used by the council’s housing service.

The 12 one-bedroom flats will form an extension of the Hjaltland flats which are nearing completion in Harbour Street where the North Star and the Excelsior bar once stood, and will provide a much-needed boost to the town’s social housing stock. The whole corner site is to be known as Excelsior Place.

The same architects and engineers as have been used in the first phase of the corner site development will be used again, and building work will go out to tender.

Chairman of the planning committee Frank Robertson said: “It’s absolutely excellent. It will complete the development round the corner within the town centre conservation area, and is designed to harmonise with the development just being completed.” Additionally it would reduce the housing waiting list, which has been standing at nearly 1,000 for several years.

Hjaltland property manager Paul Leask said the flats would bring people into an area of the town that would otherwise be derelict. He added that he was delighted with the appearance and quality of the building now under way.