Work to start on council’s new £6 million North Ness complex
By News Scotland

Work will begin next week on the new £6 million Shetland Islands Council office complex at North Ness in Lerwick, due to be completed by March 2012.

The building will be owned by Shetland Charitable Trust’s property development com­pany Shetland Leasing and Property Develop­ments Limited (Slap) and leased to the council.

Main contractors Hunter & Morrisons was selected following tenders from companies both in the UK and abroad, to build the complex on the site of the now-demolished former WAG Con­struction warehouses.

According to Slap Hunter & Morrisons achieved the highest score in terms of both quality and price, ensuring it secured the most economically advantageous tender.

The offices, which will accommodate the SIC social care service, will comprise a two-wing building with two areas of office accommodation enclosing a glazed fronted social space.

Councillor Jim Henry, chairman of Slap, said: “By pursuing a design and build route, Slap aims to construct the building within budget while still achieving a quality design and a range of facilities which will enable the office accommodation to be as flexible as possible with the potential to develop into the future.”

The offices will provide over 3,000 square metres (about 30,000 square feet) of useable space.

Mr Henry said: “I am very pleased that we have secured the services of local firm Hunter & Morrisons and I now look forward to seeing progress on this project.”

Ian Morrison of Hunter & Morrisons said the company was excited to have been selected as contractor for the design and build project, as were their architects Covell Matthews and engineers Mott Macdonald. They looked forward to working closely with Slap and the project team in delivering the new high quality offices.

Mr Henry said the project would complement the North Ness Industrial Estate which was already managed by Slap and would complete the current development plans for the North Ness area, making the Lerwick waterfront an attractive and vibrant area.