Knab Masterplan Consultation Event No.2 06.03.18

Preface

This report summarises the key outcomes from the second community consulta on workshop on the future of the Knab site which was held in Lerwick Town Hall on 6 March 2018. The event facilitated by the masterplanners for the Knab site, 7N Architects in collabora on with Nick Wright Planning, and was a ended by over 80 people.

The principal aim of the workshop was to reach a reasonable level of consensus on the future use of the Knab site before moving forward with further design work. on the masterplan. This report records the community’s feedback on a range of poten al uses for the site which were derived from sugges ons put forward at the previous workshop. The key outcomes of the event will be considered by Shetland Islands Council and will inform a revised brief for the development of the next stage of the masterplan.

3 Consultation Event No.2

This second community workspaces artists/creative community spaces cafe consulta on event on the learning hub community centre childcare, classes etc future of the Knab site was nightclub heritage residentially- centre organised to further explore compatible hospitality soft play youth club issues and proposals raised businesses academy play park family classic car by the community at the fi rst tourist hostel hotel learning archive centre event which was held on 7 ice rink caravan bowling school knitwear November 2017. site alley civic building heritage College centre indoor sports relocation hospital/ gymnastics, cricket health centre Additional baton twirling, volleyball Support basketball, badminton more specialist housing Needs unit netball, hockey, etc colour young, elderly hockey open space students, affordable park-and- shared ownership etc pitch ride allotments rear path for houses community care home sheltered on Twageos Road garden housing

First consulta on event at, the now former, Anderson High School Sugges ons for future uses for the Knab site from previous consulta ons.

4 Consultation Event No.2

Following the last community event in November, the mas- Nick Wright set the context for the evening by explain- The workshop was very well a ended with over eighty terplan team refl ected upon the ideas and feedback which ing the strategic importance of the site for Shetland as a people taking part and an encouraging number of young- were received and concluded that it would be benefi cial to whole. The uses which were suggested by the community er people who do not always par cipate in such events. have further dialogue with the community on how to make at the fi rst workshop were then reviewed as a series of Having the younger members of the community there to the best use of the site. nine op on scenarios for the site. The community were describe their acute needs helped to focus the discussions invited to make comments on each op on in terms of : on building a sustainable future for the islands. This workshop therefore focused on sugges ons made at the last engagement event to explore, as a group, how they Pros and Cons for: - The Knab Site The feedback from the par cipants on each op on is might best serve the local area, the town of Lerwick and - Lerwick recorded on the following pages and the conclusion at the Shetland as a whole. - Shetland end of the report summarises the masterplanning team’s interpreta on of the community’s preferences from the The principal aim of the workshop was to reach a clearer The aim of this approach was to help diff eren ate between consulta on event. These outcomes will inform a revised consensus on the future use of the Knab site before mov- specifi c local issues and those uses which could have a wid- brief for the development of the next stage of the master- ing forward with further design work on the masterplan. er benefi t for the town and the islands over the long term. plan.

New Anderson High School

Lerwick Old Town

The Knab

The Knab site in the ccontext of Lerwick The par cipants recorded their comments on each op on in Much of the discussion focused on the future needs of the young- terms of Pros and Cons for the Knab Site, Lerwick and Shetland er members of the community

5 6 Workshop Options Option 1

• Homes • Hostel • Business Start Up • Ar st Hub green • hotel Hotel space There was considerable and enthusias c support for an Ar sts’ Hub. Many ar sts currently work at home artist hub and so opportuni es for collabora on are rare.

It was understood that crea ve industries need to be encouraged. There was recogni on that Shetland business start up needs to create new opportuni es through business/ art hubs or start ups. homes hostel There was concern about the number of new homes that might be proposed, and what eff ect any resul ng increase on traffi c will have on the exis ng roads.

8

Option 1/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Big need for gallery and project space, both for es- • Ar st - good for Shetland and Lerwick to have • Ar st hub/business start-up could off er new op- tablished/working ar sts and students/emerging gallery portunity for self-employment and skills develop- to encourage people to stay on the island. • HIE report also cited young people for opportuni- ment hub. • Homes strategically a plus as popula on will even- ty- need a place to create opportuni es. • Studio/arts/business start-up space- no provision, tually grow. • Hostel: be good to have a second hostel, in Ler- would meet a gap. • Mixed housing capacity. wick and Shetland. • Crea ve hub great idea to have a focus for visual • Arts centre could be amazing. Access for all work • More people be er for town centre shops, busi- arts both locally and interna onally. spaces, studios needed. ness, etc. • Great plan for crea ve industries. • Hospitality academy rather than hotel and student • Great to have a space for ar sts and cra ers to • Good to partner ar st hub and business hub accommoda on rather than hostel. work and collaborate. together as there is poten al for them to work • Ar st hub: reasons for people to move here to • Ar st hub and business start up. Posi ve and well together. Accommoda on on site could work live and work. Raise profi le of all kinds of art in ac ve development for Lerwick. too- poten al for visi ng ar sts to work during Shetland. Tourist poten al. Educa on: reasons for • Business start-up: good for Lerwick as get more residencies etc. Student accomoda on could also people to stay in Shetland. people using the town. work alongside this. • Encourage the crea ve industries. • Hospitality training facility Bruce Hostel. • Ar st hub and crea ve space/crea ve enterprise • Ar st hub would allow the visual arts to really • Good coupling of diff erent use. start-up space and opportunity needed to meet shine in Shetland and raise its profi le as an art/ exis ng demands. cra /design des na on. • Ge ng to Shetland is expensive so cheaper ac- commoda on is important to make it aff ordable. • Ar st hub would bring interna onal visitors for residencies/exhibi ons • Encourage the crea ve industries. No provision for ar st space in Shetland at the moment- good to crea ve hub. • Think an art centre provided to everybody, old, young etc is the best possible list of the Anderson Ins tute.

10 Option 1/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Hostel for NAFC/appren ce accommoda on? • Hotel not needed, enough in town exis ng need • Access roads too small for amount of traffi c • Like this plan except hotel. improved! • More traffi c! • Too many homes just in Lerwick? • Islesburgh Hostel to become obsolete? • Homes: too many for site, what would happen to • What evidence for another hotel? • Do we need another hotel in Lerwick- who would traffi c? buy the building? • Homes: too many, too exposed. • Viability of business/ar st start-up? • Too many houses. • Access for this many homes through Lerwick? • Homes best if starter homes, if not, too many.

11 Option 2

• Civic Use • Hotel • Gymnasium green • Apartments space • Homes hotel

It was noted that SIC have other buildings in Lerwick that are currently underused and so a proposed SIC/ Civic use in the Anderson Ins tute was ques oned. civic

There was concern about the poten al number of new homes shown - and comments about the lack of gymnasium shelter and exposure to the weather, and the poten al increase in traffi c. homes apartments Those who commented on sports seemed happy about the gymnasium, as this would free up space at the Clickimin facility. It was also suggested that the green space be used for allotments or a family-orient- ed park.

12 Project / document Title 13 Option 2/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• What civic use would or is needed? Be er as arts • Allotments: green space. • Provides an area for indoor ac vity! centre- open to everybody. • Green space: good space, could make it a good • I like the apartments and civic use hotel also good. • Apartments. park for families. • Tried every other avenue of ge ng a gymnas cs • Hotel- who’s paying? • Apartments. facility in Lerwick for the past 7 years. • Hospitality Academy rather than hotel and student • Purpose built centre for use by all ages in commu- accommoda on. nity: gymnas cs, physio, so play. • Purpose built gymnas c and movement centre to • Bruce Hostel: centre for food and drink and train- suit the ISO gymnasts and 195 people on wai ng ing. list. • • Who would run gymnasium? Julie Grant! Shetland Frees up hall hire for Clickimin. Gymnas cs Club head coach. Community asset transfer already started!

14 Option 2/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• SIC have lots of buildings already! • Where is private investment going to come for a • Too exposed for homes. • Gymnas cs club frees up indoor area (Clickimin) hotel? • With building houses at Staney Hill are these many for sports use by other groups. • Not enough of a mix. needed at Knab! • Who would open a hotel- is it really needed? • Council has enough buildings already. • Give: what type, how will this benefi t residents. • SIC have lots of buildings si ng empty. Use them. • The lazy op on. • Too many cars- road infrastructure not good • Civic: SIC have enough buildings for this, is this • Too many homes, where are the services: school, enough. needed? health centre, etc? • Too many houses! Poor transport links. • Is there folk lobbying for a gym? Gymnas cs facili- • No more hotels! ty rather than gym. • Serviced sites for starter homes. • Apartments could be for young people?

15 Option 3

• Hotels • Hostel • Homes green space hotel

There was some concern over whether this number of hotel/ hostels are needed. hotel green Several suggested that the listed building be used as space Hospitality Academy - rather than use these buildings as hotels.

There was concern that the propor on of space allo- homes cated to housing is too great, and that this will lead to hostel an increase in traffi c.

16

Option 3/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• 4 or 5 star hotel. • Two hotels as well as a hostel the best use? Hos- • Opportunity for park and green space for people. • Hospitality Academy rather than hotel and student tels, yes. Hotels, no. • Green space: de-list and use! accommoda on rather than hostel. • Green good for houses/social. • Good for tourism/more choice= hotels. • Bruce Hostel: cooking and service training. • Mee ng housing needs of people. • Mee ng need for fl exible housing. Very supported housing, alterna ve residen al accommoda on. • Big need for student accommoda on (aff ordable and in central loca on).

18 Option 3/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Hotel: not needed. Improve ones we already have! • Too many homes, where are the services? • How does increase in traffi c aff ect area and ability • No more hotels! (Schools etc). to get around? • Who is going to invest in the hotels? • Hotels not needed. • Traffi c issues for current residents. • Decentralising eff ect on rural housing and commu- • Traffi c is a huge issue with this amount of homes. • Too much housing. Poor road system. ni es if all housing targeted in Lerwick. • Is there a need for more hotels? • Is another hostel needed? Too many hotels. • Not sure if we need much hotel/hostel accommo- • Roads could not cope with the traffi c this plan da on. would create. • Student accommoda on? Hostel? • Homes: what would impact be on traffi c/road • Act of funding to convert listed buildings to hotel infrastructure? use. • More green space. But will it just be grass?

19 Option 4

• Business Start Up • Ar st Hub • Hotel green • Homes space hotel

The proposed business uses and and ar st hub uses were generally well received. Comments state that artist hub this op on could be a construc ve and communi- ty-driven way of mee ng diff erent needs.

There was strong support from both crea ves and business start up members of the public to increase Shetland’s ac vity in the crea ve industry. homes business start up There was some concern about how an increase in traffi c will aff ect the roads.

20

Option 4/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Opportunity for housing for “essen al workers” • Training hospitality/hostel to also service whole • Addi onal housing, including specialist housing and elderly popula on/supported. project. would reduce wai ng list and provide for future • Exci ng to have art space for exhibi ons, work- • Ar st hub and small business hub work well demographic. shops etc. Not currently provided in Shetland. together- share resources etc, cafe, child care etc. • Ar st space and business start-up great for collab- • Ar st/business: good idea, would need to be ac- (Addi onal comment saying yes). ora on. cessible for public to enjoy too. • Private homes reduce pressure on Shetland’s • Starter/mixed old sheltered housing. • Need for start-up units for businesses. public money. • Gallery space and ar sts studios don’t take much • Hospitality academy rather than hotel. • Housing development. money to set up. • Great to have a space for ar sts and cra ers to • I like the ar st hub/cafe space- good for commu- • Great! Shetland need young folk businesses! work/exhibit/collaborate. nity spirit. • Very posi ve idea for crea ve industries and visual • Ar st hub and business start-up spaces desperate- arts needed! ly needed. • Demolish JCH. • Crea ve studio space and workshop facili es- for • As a resident I like this op on. visi ng (paying) ar sts, local ar sts and students (UHI). • Ar st hub and business start-up spaces not cur- rently available. • Ar st hub must be for whole community and can be.

22 Option 4/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Wonder if the hotel is proven need? When • Are the Mareel and museum not ar st hubs? Do • Homes: traffi c impact/road infrastructure. permission for hotel old health centre site hasn’t we need more? • Traffi c issues for current residents. been developed? • In response to above comment: not ar st studio • Roads could not cope with this amount of hous- • Hotel and ar st hub- where would funding come spaces or a space of art as a whole. ing. from? • Too much housing for area. More green areas. • Arts hub: leader Crea ve Scotland awards for all • Ar st business great idea. etc, there are many possible funders. • Hotel maybe be er as student/single accommo- da on. • Should hotel be a hostel? • Could student accommoda on (student halls) fom part of this plan? Incorporated into housing sec on?

23 Option 5

• Sports • Games Hall • Gymnasium green • Hotel space • Apartments hotel

There was strong support from those involved in Games Hall hockey and gymnas cs for new sports facili es. Others hotel ques oned whether there were already suffi cient facili es elsewhere, sugges ng the fact that the Knab might not be the best loca on for sports use. gymnasium Some thought that this op on might generate less traffi c compared to other op ons, while others noted concern at the lack of housing shown. apartments sports

24

Option 5/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Ac vity and opportunity to try and keep young • Access to facili es for a range of sports. • Low traffi c levels. working age in Shetland. • Keep games hall- use changing for hockey pitch. • This is good but please lose the hotels. • Hockey facility to support 200 senior players, 300 • Sport and social housing work together in terms of • Green space kept for residents/area. primary and secondary players. access to facili es. • Doesn’t impinge on residents. • Address gap for hockey. • New AHS using facili es at Clickimin- need for • More facili es in central town loca on. • Huge demand for gymnas cs currently nowhere addi onal facili es. • Social housing and recrea on would be a good near met in Shetland. • Address gap for gymnas cs. mix. • Impact on physical ac vity. • Clickimin has limited sports- this allows others to • More access to movement-focused space will help be played in town. all those older adults. • Huge demand for astro surface that could accom- • Purpose built gym needed for non sport-based modate mul sports. movement. • Good idea plenty of lo ery money. • Hospitality academy rather than hotel and student accommoda on. • Believe the listed buildings should remain in public use.

26 Option 5/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Plenty of sports facili es in Shetland- lots of lei- • Not enough capacity at Clickimin! • One use- big demand at par cular mes- eve- sure centres. • Sports should be concentrated at Clickimin not nings/weekends? • Sports well catered for across Shetland already. addi onal hub at Knab. • Movement centre, pre-school gymnas cs and • Hotel? Where is the evidence of need? • Games/sport: how would this benefi t/help the indoor so play as well as disability Shetland . Use • Addi onal sports hall needs money to get run. town as mostly used at night. all during the day! Shetland has 52 halls. • Is it best use of site for Shetland/Lerwick? • Games hall/sports: do we need both, could the • Is there not enough sports facili es in Lerwick • Already Clickimin for sports- other areas at other Games hall be kept? already? ends of town more suitable. • Develop a scheme with be er housing/sport mix. • Viability of hotel? • Are more hotels necessary with the decrease in oil • It’s not jus fi able as a plan without housing. • Limited long term future and impact on SRT. work? • This design looks made to fail... the whole site • Sports = range. More football spaces? Hockey? • Not hotel but training centre for food and bever- dedicated to sport, planners know housing is a • There is already huge provisions in place for sport age. need. across all of Shetland. • A non-realis c op on will receive nega ve com- • South of Shetland. ments. • Enough space/money given to sports already. • Feasibility of more hotels in Lerwick.

27 Option 6

• Caravan Park • Hotels • Gymnasium green • Apartments space • Homes hotel

Although there were some that suggested a caravan park would poten ally bring tourists to the town, there hotel were many who strongly felt that the Knab is not an caravan appropriate site choice, as was demonstrated in the park past when an earlier Caravan Park on the Knab was damaged by strong winds. gymnasium

There was a general agreement that the quan ty of homes shown seems appropriate. compared to other apartments op ons. homes

28

Option 6/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Purpose built for facility for gymnas cs and • Lerwick has missed the caravan park since knock- • Where else do you suggest we put a caravan park? movement including indoor so play for all ages ing it doing so is required. • Homes: be er amount, less impact on roads. and abili es. Will also allow the current 195 young • Apartments/accommoda on could help meet More balanced. people on the wai ng list a chance to enjoy the demand. • Mixed used to make site dynamic. sport. • More tourists using town centre facili es. • Remember what happened to former Knab cara- • Housing for elderly needs essen al. • Apartments: could be good for young people, van site! • Hospitality academy rather than hotel and student starter fl ats? accommoda on rather than hostel. • Caravan park in Lerwick to increase tourist visit to • Consider mixed use of caravan park wrapped town centre? around gym and retaining both- more area. • Green space ered allotments. • Caravan park could be hockey pitch.

30 Option 6/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Don’t think that the listed buildings should be • Very large caravan park! Windy site! • Caravan park maybe doesn’t need to be so big? privately developed. • We don’t need another hotel. This is detrimental • Access isues for large vehicles/caravans. • Homes = good amount but other half could be for to exis ng hotels who need business. • Exposed site. Previous caravan issues here. business use. • Caravan park is not fi nancially viable! • Caravan park: will this be sta c/residen al or • No more hotels needed. holiday park? • Not sure if this is a prac cal site for caravans? • Caravans blew away on a site adjacent to this a • Is there a need for more hotels, I don’t think so! couple decades ago re Hjaltland Place. • Do you know what happened to the last caravan park! • Bit windy for a caravan park? • Not a sensi ve use for such a fi ne listed building. • Caravan park very large.

31 Option 7

• Allotments • Homes • Hostel • Gymnasium • Heritage • Family Services green space family services

The sugges on that allotments be accommodated on the site was well received; however, the area indicated heritage was considered by many to be too exposed. homes

The Allotments Group have suggested, in previous consulta ons, that allotments would be be er located gymnasium in the open space west of Knab Road.

There was support for the proposal that the exis ng hostel buildings should have some heritage use and that the Science Block be used for Gymnas cs. allotments

32

Option 7/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Purpose built gymnas cs facility in science block • Movement space that’s not only sports focused. • Gymnas cs and movement centre is compa ble to cater for the current 150 young Shetland • Moving gymnas cs out of Clickimin will free up with any other use of surrounding site. people at the club plus the current 195 young hall space for other sports. • Yes to allotments! (but on the Knab golf course people on their wai ng list. • Thoroughly advise use of S/AHS/AEI as a heritage area). Funding available for poly tunnels from • Gymnasium space could include kids so play centre- great for Lerwick, Shetland as a whole. carbon neutral funds. and community space. Much needed. • Allotments are good but too much of site taken • Gym space involving other movement focuses • Allotments needed throughout the town. up. physio/pilates, classes/courses. • Family site: good building for this. Already used- • Allotments sited on golf course not on car park. • Fresh food, enclosed gardening. improve building for family. • (Arrow poin ng towards West of suggested allot- • We need more heritage centres. There are so ments): put allotments here. Lewick Community many artefacts looking for a home. (Cars/radi- Allotments Associa on would take it on! (If you os/etc). live in Lerwick and would like an allotment please follow the Lerwick Community Allotments face- book page).

34 Option 7/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• We have enough sport. • Exposed site. Switch homes and allotments. • Too exposed for allotments on the Knab (be nice • Housing- removes residents view of harbour and somewhere else though!) Bressay. • Heritage centres exist around Shetland already? • Too windy for allotments! Do we need more? • Nice and sheltered for allots! Not. • Is this the right place for allotments! • Allotments too exposed. • Is there a need for allotments! • Swap homes and allotments. • Green space is great but is this the best place for allotments to grow thing? Exposed/wind. • Poly tunnels needed for gradening. • Allotments: is this the best place on the site for this?

35 Option 8

• Caravan Park • Games Hall • Hostel green • Business start-up space • Heritage hotel • Hotel Games Hall heritage

An important ques on was raised: what is more im- portant for Shetland’s future: tourism or housing? business start up

Interes ng sugges ons were made about the pro- hostel mo on of food and drink, making Shetland a go-to des na on in this sector, a rac ng more tourists. caravan park

There was some concern about a poten al increase in traffi c resul ng from a new caravan park in the Knab.

Addressing strategic housing needs whilst also sup- por ng tourism should be explored.

36

Option 8/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Recrea on and tourism vs. housing: what is more • Heritage looks good to me for AEI. For heritage • Need for addi onal games hall now that AHS using important for Shetland’s future? being lively should be/is good (changing people Clickimin. • Long term reuse for educa on i.e. College. around hotel). AEI could be combina on heritage • Good mix of crea vity/business, heritage and and arts and cafe and business start up but open hostel- these work together well. to public. • Hotel might a ract private investor (if standard • Place off ers nice view for visit (cafe, heritage cen- and place a rac ve). tre, hotel). • Heritage could partly funded externally (e.g.: • Use the place for life and relaxing and enjoying. lo ery). • Business: good for Lerwick as can bring people • In same way that Shetland is famous for knitwear, into town. now need to promote food and drink. Make Shet- land a des na on of choice for foodies. Thriving food and drink sector may a ract more young people. • Heritage: could this be a mul -use space for all of Shetland to access?

38 Option 8/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Many museums and historical buildings in Shetland. • Swap Games hall and caravan park- caravan park • Caravan park too exposed to weather (there was Let’s look forward in a crea ve way, not always looking too exposed here. one here formerly but it was blown away). back. • Duplica on with Isleburgh as community hub? • ... and we all ended up with remnants in our gar- • Enough heritage facili es in Shetland already, not dens. progressive enough. • ... agree: Lerwick needs caravan park but (refering to above comment). • No facili es for caravan users. • Access issues for large vehicles/caravans. • Caravans blew away nearby in 1990. • The last one blew away so don’t bother.

39 Option 9

• Retail • Homes • Hostel green • Business Start Up space • Ar st’s Hub hotel • Hotel artist hub homes

There was a great deal of support and enthusiam for business start up the idea of crea ng an Ar st and/or Business Startup facility - and this could poten ally encourage younger people to stay on, or come back to, Shetland rather hostel than move elsewhere. It was also felt that these uses would be appropriate to the retained listed buildings. retail

Many strongly felt that crea ng addi onal retail space here would create compe on with the retail off er in the exis ng old town centre.

40

Option 9/Pros

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Could hostel be student accommoda on? This is • Ar st and business space would generate demand • Central enough for ameni es and access to sorely needed in Shetland. for other business in Shetland. Mareel/museum but good ouside space/light for • Anderson Ins tute could remain educa on (Arts) • Ar st space coupled with innova on equals pro- crea vity. and its legacy remain. duc vity and sustainability. • Good mix of uses. • Student accommoda on next to a crea ve hub • Ar st hub needed in Shetland. • Crea ve space with community space for local would be ideal. • Crea ve industry support, ar st hub, mixed crea- ac vity (art hub). • Hospitality Academy rather than hotel. ve use. • Use as a hub for crea ve industries would be a • Long term college and hostels. Housing to rein- • More retail choice equals cheaper goods? sensi ve use of the old building. force town centre. • Ar sts’ hub: Lerwick ideal loca on for hub. • Ar st hub: the ins tute is purpose build and ready • Like mixed use. • Uses to reinforce town centre. to use for studios and workshop. • Art: this doesn’t currently exist in Shetland- • Ar st/business space could also provide other • Homes: be er amount, but is this the right place much needed. Ar sts/designers currently work opportuni es: childcare, community hub, cafe etc. for it on site? from home. Isolate. This would give us room to Combine/share space. develop. • Flats/starter homes/coop much needed. Lots of millenials living at home! • Huge need for a space in which ar sts can work. Most ar sts use a home space (shed, spare Shetland cont. room) which is not suitable and does not allow for networking. • A crea ve hub coud have close es with schools • Crea ve hubs revitalise areas where industry has and Shetland College to consider educa onal out- declined. comes, e.g.: workshops, skill share, etc. • An inclusive ar st hub and business start up area • No provision for ar st hub in Shetland so this would encourage young folk to reside in Shet- would fi ll a big gap. Great idea to promote crea- land and feel supported in their work. vity. • Residency scheme for ar sts from across the • Ar st hub, hostel (at Bruce), apartments (JC), world. Great for Shetland’s crea ve economy. these could work together for business start up.

42 Option 9/Cons

Shetland Lerwick The Knab

• Not more sport. • Retail not needed. • Large retail area in such a defi nite residen al area • Must look a er the street before a new retail hub. • Retail- no need: empty shops on street. would change the feel of the area too much. • Hotel: business viability? • Retail not needed, street is dying as is. • One caravan park already blown away. • Retail: no need, poor access. • Retail- no draw from the street. • Art hub? Mareel? Museum? Do we not already • Business start up- is there a demand for here? have these? • Homes in this space will ruin residents’ view. • (In response to comment above): No we don’t • Ar st residency scheme- paid. have workspace. • Where is the gymnas c movement centre? • No need for more retail. • Retail: does the street not already struggle for business? • Retail: not needed, save the old town fi rst! • Retail could impact nega vely on town centre. • Retail not needed unless McDonalds, KFC, etc. • Commercial spaces in downtown.

43 44 Conclusion and Next Steps

45 Conclusions

• It was highlighted that there is a cri cal need for Whilst there was no clearly preferred op on resul ng from aff ordable housing for young people which is a key factor in retaining them on, or a rac ng them back to, the consulta on there was a discernable level of concensus the islands. for certain uses and ac vi es which would have wider • A range of housing is also needed for older people. benefi ts for the town and the islands. • Vehicle and parking impact was highlighted as a key issue associated with new housing by those living close to the site. Much of the discussion focused on the re-use of the exist- town and something which would help to retain young ing Listed Buildings. people on the islands. Other uses:

• The former Anderson Ins tute building was considered • Although there was not much support for a hotel the • As the proposed hockey pitch, which was raised as a to be the most important buiding on the site due to its Bruce Hostel building was seen to be appropriate for key issue in the previous consulta on event, is now signifi cance in the history of the islands. There was a some kind of hospitality training facility which could the subject of discussions between SIC and the hockey strong feeling that it should be retained for a form of be combined with an opera onal hotel. This should be group the Knab site was no longer seen as a preferred public/civic use rather than being turned into a hotel. priori sed over a hotel unless it is demonstrated that loca on for it. there isn’t a business case for it. • Ar sts studios and an innova on hub were iden fi ed • There was no widespread support for a caravan park. as a poten al uses which should be explored which • The fl exible open space of the former Science Building would have a wider benefi t for the town and the was seen as being appropriate for business start-up • There was some support for allotments on the site, or islands. There are no studio facili es for ar sts in the space and gymnas cs which could be combined with in nearby open space, although it was recognised that town at present. These uses could be combined to op- some sort of so play facili es for children. this could be in a limited area. mise the use of the building and reduce overheads. • There was no strong support for the reten on of the The plan diagram opposite summarises the masterplanning • The Janet Courtney Hostel Building was considered to School Sports Hall or the ASN building. team’s interpreta on of the community’s preferences from be appropriate for low cost hostel type residen al ac- the consulta on event. This will form the basis of tes ng at commoda on for young people including appren ces It was iden fi ed that there is an acute need for a range of the next community event. and students. This was seen to be an acute need in the housing to address specifi c needs in Lerwick and Shetland.

46 Next Steps

The key outcomes of the community consulta on Green Space event will be considered by Shetland Islands Council and Hospitality Training/ Hotel will inform a revised brief for the development of the next Artist’s Studios/Innovation Hub Community Use stage of the masterplan.

Hostel Business Start-Up/ Gymnasium The outline masterplan will be presented at a further MixedMix d TenureTenur Allotments community consulta on Homes event in May 2018.

Plan summarising the masterplanning team’s interpreta on of the community’s preferences from the consulta on event.

47 7N Architects 7 Randolph Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7TE T +44 (0) 131 220 5541 7Narchitects.com