Housing Minister Paul McLennan was in Shetland and officially opened the Hjaltland Housing Associations newly completed scheme Berryview in Scalloway.

The project includes 32 new homes in Scalloway and will go some way to meeting the continued high demand for housing in the area.

The Associations Head of Investment Paul Leask said: "This project started back when the Covid restrictions were still in place and there was a lot of uncertainty around the supply chain and workforce, so to see it finished and handed over feels like a real achievement for everyone involved. “E&H Building Contractors have delivered yet another superb scheme to the highest standard and I have to pay a special tribute to their Director Bobby Elphinstone who unfortunately passed away earlier this year.

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"Bobby was a driving force within the Shetland Community for innovation and quality of house building and the Association was very fortunate to have worked with him on the delivery of approximately 300 new homes over the last 22 years. His knowledge and influence on the standards we have now come to expect leaves a lasting legacy for us all."

The Association operates a nomination agreement with the Shetland Islands Council where 50% of the scheme was let to applicants on the SIC waiting list. Ian Bray, head of Housing with the Association said: "We had over 200 applicants for just 13 properties, and with 678 households remaining on the waiting list for affordable housing, demand remains stubbornly high. With recent interest rate rises impacting on the affordability of the housing market it is not a surprise we are seeing high levels of demand. We have been working extremely hard to address the need but understand there is still work to do and have schemes in Aith, Brae, Walls and Scalloway that are progressing along with our Staneyhill project."

Photo: SIC