Council / Planning round up 24 March
PLANS for two timber glamping pods in Burra – set to be named “Papil Pods” – have been lodged with council planners.
The proposal comes from Neil and Alison Beattie, who want to include outdoor seating and decking at the site too.
They have said the glamping pods would “function in ecological and logistical harmony with both the environment and existing crofting activities”.
“Both pods will be oriented towards the southeast to maximize the stunning vistas of the landscape and the picturesque views down the voe to Havra.
“Located in Burra we aim to offer subtle, discreet and luxurious rural accommodation for tourists visiting this area’s natural beauty including Meal and Minn beaches, as well as for Shetland residents to enjoy short breaks.”
Writing to the council, they said that the Williamson family has been crofting for generations in the Papil area.
However, they added that the raising of sheep alone “does not generate a sufficient outcome”.
“As a result, we are looking at ways to diversify our croft in order to secure the sustainability of the business and provide an opportunity for the younger generation (our children) to continue working in a traditional Shetland way.
“As a family, we want to continue to be able to manage the rural environment and wildlife, play our role in providing food for the nation but now also have the opportunity to share this with visitors in our luxury accommodation.”
It would potentially add to the provision of glamping pods in the isles, with sites already set up in the North and South Mainland as well as at the Scalloway Caravan Park.
Pods were recently approved for a site near Walls, outside the Westings Inn and in Lerwick.
NHS SHETLAND has been granted planning permission to change the use of the former St Olaf Street dentists in Lerwick into a four-bedroom residential building.
The health board had said it hoped the move would make the property, which has been on the market for several years, more attractive to potential buyers.
The change of use application will see the vacant property at 90 St Olaf Street changed into a four-bedroom residential building.
The ongoing attempts to sell the building, which was taken on by the NHS after former dentist Alan Owen retired in 2011, came after a sale previously fell through.
An NHS Shetland spokesperson said last month that its board had made the decision in “the hope that the property may attract more potential buyers”.
“During the interim, the board did investigate its potential to be used as staff accommodation but the layout isn’t suitable for multiple occupants,” they added.
When the property first went on the market it had an asking price of offers over £240,000.
SCALLOWAY Community Council has asked for more information about Statkraft’s plans to build a 132kV substation on the outskirts of Lerwick.
It has said some of the buildings at the site, particularly one to be used by SSEN for electrical switchgear, “appear to be larger than previously indicated”.
The scale of the SSEN building “seems to be out of proportion with the scale of the whole development,” it said.
Lerwick Community Council objected to the application earlier this year, before withdrawing that objection once it had received further information from Statkraft.
Now the Scalloway Community Council has raised concerns, though it has not objected.
“Questions were also raised on why it was necessary to have such a large SSEN building on the same site and whether this could not be located further down the hill towards the Gremista industrial area,” the community council said.
“It also seems strange that Statkraft are applying on behalf of SSEN rather than SSEN applying for their own building.
“Who is then responsible for what?”
Stakraft has since responded to the concerns, saying that the SSEN building was “for the sole purpose of connecting the Mossy Hill wind farm to the national electricity grid”.
“Under its grid connection agreement for Mossy Hill, Statkraft is required to provide a consented site for SSEN to build its substation development to serve the wind farm.
“This is common across the UK where a new substation development is required for the sole purpose of connecting a wind farm.
“With regard to the planning conditions, Statkraft will have overall responsibility for satisfying these, with input from SSEN as required.”
Statkraft lodged the plans for the outskirts of Lerwick in December, with the infrastructure set to provide space for transformer equipment for Statkraft and electrical switchgear for SSEN Transmission.
It hopes to link the substation into SSEN’s new power line between Kergord and Gremista.
The Norwegian energy company is aiming to connect the substation to its proposed Mossy Hill wind farm, which could see eight 155m turbines built just outside Lerwick.
THE FORMER Peerie Foxes nursery in Lerwick is set to be turned into residential units.
Peerie Foxes owner Caroline Henderson had applied for permission to change the use of the building – in the town’s Fox Lane – from a daycare to residential.
Council planners gave the proposal the green light last week.
The application does not state how many residential units could be created through the change.
Peerie Foxes, which is a privately-run childcare business, moved to a new home at the former Salvation Army building on Lerwick’s North Road in June 2022.
Shetland Islands Council’s roads department offered no objections to the potential change, saying there will be adequate parking available at the old swimming pool car park.
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