Housing / Could town centre regeneration be on the cards for housing association?
SHETLAND’s housing association could look at placing a focus on town centre regeneration projects in the future.
Hjaltland Housing Association chief executive Bryan Leask told a meeting of Lerwick Community Council that there has been a push from government on town centre regeneration.
One example he gave of the association’s previous work in this area was the Anderson Buildings development on Scalloway’s Main Street.
This saw a historic building reworked into flats and commercial units, which Leask said has made a “huge difference”.
Speaking to Lerwick Community Council members, Leask said one discussion Hjaltland needs to have is whether it continues to focus on rural development, as it has done in years gone by, or to start looking at town centre regeneration – which the government is asking for.
“So starting looking at buildings the town centre that we could maybe take on and start getting folk biding back in town centres again,” Leask said.
Hjaltland’s core work over the next 15 years will be on the new Staney Hill housing project in Lerwick, but this is located on undeveloped land.
Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Stephen Leask asked if it is tricky to find suitable properties suitable for town centre regeneration.
Leask said it is done on a “case to case basis”, as not all properties are going to be appropriate.
He explained that when it comes to funding from the government, officials need to assess if the project is good value for public purse.
The housing chief added that if the property is “too far gone” then it may not be suitable.
He said for the Anderson Buildings project Hjaltland kept the Main Street frontage but in effect built new behind it.
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