News / SIC finds 22 households a new home
SHETLAND Islands Council will hand over the keys to its newest housing tenants on Tuesday.
Half of the 22 new homes at Burnbank, in Lerwick, will go to existing council tenants who are being rehoused in smaller accommodation to avoid the unpopular bedroom tax.
The other 11 are being let to new council tenants to help reduce the 850 strong waiting list for council properties.
The council has described the approach as a “win/win” policy that will free up housing for people looking for larger homes, while helping others from being penalised by the changes to the benefits system.
The SIC had originally planned to build 76 homes at the site next to Hoofields, at Staney Hill, but was unable to raise the cash.
Instead Hjaltland Housing Association is planning to start building a further 26 social rented homes in the area later this year.
The 22 new homes, a mixture of one bedroom flats and one, two and three bedroom houses, were built by local construction firm DITT at a cost of £2.2 million, with a £600,000 grant from the Scottish government.
SIC housing executive manager Anita Jamieson said: “These 22 houses are a very important step for us in meeting the continuing need for housing in Shetland.
“Half of the properties have been offered to existing social rented tenants affected by the housing benefit changes, with the remainder allocated to waiting list, transfer and homeless applicants.
“We now have plans to work in partnership with Hjaltland Housing Association to develop more housing in this area.”
The name Burnbank was chosen after consulting with Lerwick Community Council and the North Staney Hill Community Association, some of whose members had carried out historical research into the area.
The road through the area is being called Burnbank Road, with the new houses having addresses Cruester View and Hillgrind.
The council is currently working on its five year strategic housing investment plan, which it hopes will persuade the government to release more money to complete the overall development in the area, including replacing the Hoofields chalets.
The only other council housing scheme on the books at the moment is for 10 properties to built at Gallowburn, in Brae.
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