High school land deal agreed
The new Anderson High School project has passed an important milestone, with news that the council has acquired all the land needed for the new school and hall of residence.
Final agreement has been reached with Shetland Leasing and Property Developments Ltd (SLAP) to purchase a plot to the north and west of the Clickimin rugby pitches. Last month the campsite was bought from Shetland Recreational Trust.
A planning application to build the new £42 million school and nearby halls of residence will now be submitted, possibly before the end of the month. SIC head of childrens services Helen Budge said the planning process could take several months, with building work by the Hubco building consortium starting in August at the earliest. The 1,180-pupil school is expected to be ready in August 2016.
Chairwoman of the SIC education and families committee Vaila Wishart said: “This is excellent news. While a lot of work has already been done, the acquisition of this final parcel of land land allows Hubco and the council to really start to move forward in earnest, and while I’m aware Hubco faces a tight timetable to deliver the project, I’m confident we’re well on the way to providing a brand new high school for Lerwick, and for Shetland.”
Chairwoman of SLAP Susan Groat said: “We are delighted to have reached final agreement with Shetland Islands Council on this area of land for such an important development for schoolchildren in the isles.”
Two thirds of the funding for the project is coming from the Scottish government with the remaining money from the SIC.
Louise Miller
I attended the “Institute” several years ago, for the life of me I cannot understand why the new school has to look like a Nissan hut for 100 years!