New Developments planned for Lerwick.
Hjaltland Housing Association is continuing to work closely with the Shetland Islands Council (SIC) to meet the high level of demand for affordable housing in Shetland with 38 new properties due for construction in the next couple of years.
This partnership will see an additional 11 new homes being provided within the Associations existing Hill Grind scheme and 27 new flats being proposed for a site in King Harald Street.
The Association recently appointed DITT Construction Ltd as principal contractor for the Hill Grind project and construction is due to start early in 2017. This is a £1.4m project with approximately £1m of Scottish Government grant enabling the provision of the following:
Five 1-Bedroom 2-Person Properties
Three 2-Bedroom 3-Person Properties
One 4-Bedroom 6-Person Property
Two 2-Bedroom 4-Person Properties
Hjaltland Head of Investment Paul Leask said: "The Association is pleased to be progressing with the next phase at Hill Grind and that this is yet another example of the good working partnership we have with the local authority. The Scottish Government has made housing a priority and this current investment of £1m shows its continued commitment to Shetland. We have appointed DITT as the main contractor and following their excellent performance on the previous scheme we look forward to working with them again on this project".
Contract Manager with DITT Construction Neil Fraser said: "We are delighted to be working with the Association again and having completed the previous two phases at Hill Grind we are very familiar with the site. This is a welcome investment in the local economy by the Association and we look forward to continuing the good working relationship we have with them".
The project is due to start on site in January 2017 with completion due in the spring of 2018.
Hjaltland Housing Association in partnership with the Shetland Islands Council (SIC) Plan to redevelop a run-down site on King Harald Street in the centre of Lerwick. The site is currently owned by the SIC and will be transferred to the Association once all necessary permissions are in place.
The proposal is for 27 one-bedroom flats, with the ground floor properties designed as accessible homes that will meet the differing and changing needs of tenants as they experience life events.
The Associations designers PJP Architects have recently submitted proposals for consideration by the local planning department and work has started on the detailed design for the building warrant. It is anticipated work will begin on site in the summer of 2017 with completion in 2019.
Hjaltland Chief Executive Bryan Leask said: "This development is at the early stages of design and if it goes ahead it will go some way to meeting the high level of demand we have for one bedroom properties in Lerwick. Around 60% of the Associations registered applicants are looking for a house in Lerwick and 50% of them want a one bedroom property. We have asked our design team to consider the requirements for an aging population, where appropriate, which means the ground floor properties on this site will be classed as 'homes for life'”.
This project is currently going through the planning process.