Housing offices turned into new homes

A £1.7 million housing development in Lerwick has been finished – on the site of former housing offices.

Hjaltland Housing Association’s, 12-unit Lyndhurst Place project is in place of a “dreary” office block. It will go some way to easing the pressure on the association from those who are demanding one and two-bedroom properties.

The flats were designed by Edinburgh-based architects Gilberts and constructed by Hunter & Morrison Ltd. It was built on the site that used to accommodate the old Shetland Islands Council housing offices.

Dougie Thomson of Gilberts said: “I am very pleased with the way the design has turned out. It looks like quite a simple building from the street but there is a lot going on behind the façade.

“The former offices presented a dreary, derelict, face before they were demolished. The scheme was designed, along with Excelsior Place, to enhance the frontage of Fort Road with a slate roof, natural larch cladding and alu-clad timber windows adding to the appearance while also reducing the ongoing maintenance costs.

“Building so many flats into such a tight site was certainly a challenge but Hunter & Morrison have done a fine job. Gilberts are delighted with the outcome and look forward to working with the association again in the future.”

The site was transferred by the SIC to Hjaltland in 2014 and the original house that occupied the site was demolished to make way for the new one-bedroom flats. The name, Lyndhurst Place, is a reference to the original house that used to occupy the site.

Hjaltland chief executive Bryan Leask said: “We work closely with the local authority to focus our developments in the priority areas identified in the Local Housing Strategy but the waiting list, particularly for one and two bedroom homes, remains stubbornly high.

“The association continue to work toward meeting the housing needs of those throughout Shetland and have plans to develop a further 157 homes over the next five years.

“We are very pleased with the standard of design and finish that has been achieved on this project and feel that, following the completion of Excelsior Place immediately adjacent to the site, this forms a great addition to our growing portfolio.”

Mr Leask added that Hjaltland continued to be busy with a further 52 homes either on site or due to commence before the end of the month.