Orkney Islands Council has selected three architects to produce design concepts for the redevelopment of Stromness Pierhead.

The Council has been working with the Stromness Town Centre Partnership to come up with proposals for how the area could look and asked the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland to organise a design competition to help select an architect for the project.

From the 21 initial expressions of interest, a shortlist of three architects has been drawn up by a judging panel which included Stromness councillors James Stockan and Ian Johnstone.

The shortlisted architects are Graeme Massie Architects, Malcolm Fraser Architects, and Reiach and Hall.

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They will now receive an updated brief for the project and an exhibition of their concepts will be held during this year’s Shopping Week. The public will have the opportunity to comment on each concept at the exhibition.

A winning architect will be chosen after an interview with the selection panel.

Full consultation will take place once the architect has been selected and a final design will then be agreed.

Jim Robertson, Project Manager for the Stromness Pierhead Regeneration Project said: "Participation by the people who live and work in Stromness will be important in this process as we seek to select an architect who will understand Stromness, its people and its aspirations and provide a design that will be affordable, desirable and make a significant addition to the rich architectural fabric of Stromness."

The Council's Vice Convener, Councillor James Stockan, is the Chair of the Stromness Town Centre Partnership.

Councillor Stockan said: "The Stromness Town Centre Partnership is delighted to have had such a high calibre of entrants to the competition and we are looking forward to seeing the initial design concepts as we proceed to determine who is selected to bring the project forward."

(GK/JM)