Also in the news / HIE funding, Scalloway roadworks and more…
A WHITENESS building firm has purchased a large warehouse in Lerwick and secured a funding boost from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
G A Leask Builders has secured up to £486,956 from HIE to go towards the £1.7 million project, which will see the premises converted into four units.
One of those will be used for its own expansion, with the potential for 12 local businesses to expand into “more suitable premises” too.
Five jobs will be created by G A Leask as a result, with HIE saying the company was looking also to partially address the demand for additional spaces in Shetland.
While the company funded the purchase of the building itself, the money from HIE has helped them to adapt the warehouse for its future use.
The units will be rented out or sold by G A Leask, and will feature full insulation, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
HIE Shetland manager Katrina Wiseman said it was “increasingly difficult” for the private sector to develop commercial property.
“By supporting this project HIE is enabling the private sector to develop property, helping to ease the commercial property shortage,” she said. “We are keen to hear from other businesses in Shetland with similar plans and aspirations to develop commercial properties in Shetland.”
G A Leask director Bryden Leask said the new warehouse would significantly reduce their operating costs and would increase their efficiency.
“The works to the building are very nearly complete and we plan to start shifting operations to our new unit through May,” he said.
“The additional space also lets us grow as a business but at a gradual and controllable rate to meet current and future demand.”
NORTHLINK says it hopes to have the cabin availability calendar on its booking website back up and running as “soon as possible”.
A spokesperson said the function has temporarily been taken down for web maintenance.
The feature was introduced after a local computer whizz developed his own system which showed cabin and car deck availability. Read more about the background here.
THERE WILL be changes to the Scalloway bus service due to resurfacing works in the village next week.
The road from the public hall to the Chapel Lane spur to Houl Road will be closed from Tuesday 22 to Sunday 27 April.
The closure is from the the Chapel Lane/Houl Road junction to the area with two bus stops near to the hall. Access to the Scalloway Legion will be maintained as normal when coming down the hill on Berry Road.
The work will mean operational changes to bus service 4, which are as follows:
- From Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 April a feeder bus will link Port Arthur and Blydoit, and tickets on Lerwick-bound journeys will be sold on board the main bus at Blydoit. The bus stop at the Scalloway Hall will be closed, and replaced with a temporary bus stop near the crossroads of Craigpark Road and Berry Road.
- On Sunday 27 April the service will turn at the Scalloway Primary School rather than the usual Scalloway Hall stop.
Service 5 will also use the temporary stop when timetabled to serve the Scalloway Hall stop.
A TALK on what green energy developments will mean “for the Shetland economy” is set to be jointly hosted by Shetland Islands Council (SIC) in Glasgow next month.
Figures from Statkraft and Veri Energy will be involved in the talk, along with Shetland Islands Council’s future energy project manager Jennifer Sjoberg.
Joining them will be the University of Strathclyde’s energy policy director Karen Turner, with the Scottish Government’s hydrogen strategy head Stuart McKay chairing.
The SIC is jointly hosting the session alongside University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy.
In its description, it says ensuring the energy transition in Shetland delivers sustainable and equitable prosperity will require “close collaboration between government at multiple levels, industry and the community.
“Various green energy developments are planned, but questions remain about what their impact will be on the Shetland economy and its communities,” it says.
“How can strong supply chains and infrastructure be further developed? How can already constrained resources such as labour and housing be effectively managed?
“What more needs to be done to ensure the benefits of these developments are fairly distributed?”
It says the session will seek to address these along with other crucial questions, and will “draw on new research insights and analysis”.
It is being held at the All-Energy 2025 event in Glasgow’s SEC auditorium’s Alsh 2 venue between 4pm and 5.30pm on Wednesday 14 May.
FUNDING support is being offered to homeowners and community groups with charitable status to connect to the electricity network.
The Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust, which was founded by SSE, considers applications for support with connecting.
It offers support up to 75 per cent of the cost of connections for successful community projects, and up to 50 per cent of the cost for individuals looking to meet the costs of a domestic connection.
The next round of applications closes on Wednesday 14 May 2025, with future applications being considered by trustees on a quarterly basis.
Further applications are welcome after the closing date on 14 May as the trust meets to regularly consider applications. To apply online or download an application form follow this link.
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