Bluemull Sound Final STAG Report ZetTrans September 2008 Prepared by: ................................................ Approved by: ................................................. Richie Fraser Paul Finch Consultant Associate Director Bluemull Sound Rev No Comments Date 1 Lower Ground Floor, 3 Queens Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1XL Telephone: 01224 627800 Fax: 01224 627849 Website: http://www.fabermaunsell.com Job No 55280TABT Reference 701 Date Created September 2008 This document has been prepared by Faber Maunsell Limited (“Faber Maunsell”) for the sole use of our client (the “Client”) and in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between Faber Maunsell and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by Faber Maunsell, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of Faber Maunsell. f:\projects\55280tabt - zettrans regional transport strategy\workstage 701 - bluemull stag\stag 2\bluemull sound stag final report 080916.doc Table of Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4 1.2 STAG Appraisal .................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Structure of Report................................................................................................ 4 2 Background and Study Context .................................................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Shetland................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 Bluemull Sound and the North Isles ..................................................................... 7 2.4 Shetland’s Internal Ferry Services........................................................................ 8 2.5 Bluemull Sound Ferry Service .............................................................................. 9 2.6 Carryings Analysis .............................................................................................. 12 2.7 Socio-Economic Analysis ................................................................................... 17 2.8 Summary............................................................................................................. 21 3 Statutory Context .......................................................................................................... 24 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 24 3.2 National Planning and Policy Framework........................................................... 24 3.3 Local Planning and Policy Context ..................................................................... 26 3.4 Summary............................................................................................................. 29 4 Analysis of Existing and Potential Problems and Opportunities............................. 31 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 31 4.2 Planning for the Replacement of Existing Vessels ............................................. 31 4.3 Changing Vessel Legislation .............................................................................. 32 4.4 Renewal and Replacement of Gutcher and Belmont Ferry Terminals............... 32 4.5 Hamars Ness Ferry Terminal.............................................................................. 33 4.6 Existing Timetable............................................................................................... 34 4.7 Managing Vehicle Demand................................................................................. 35 4.8 Wider Network Issues......................................................................................... 35 4.9 Accessibility ........................................................................................................ 35 4.10 Affordability ......................................................................................................... 37 4.11 Sustaining the Socio-Economic Prospects of the North Isles ............................ 40 4.12 Other Operational Issues.................................................................................... 40 4.13 Opportunities....................................................................................................... 41 4.14 Summary............................................................................................................. 42 5 Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 44 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 44 5.2 Planning Objectives ............................................................................................ 44 5.3 Constraints.......................................................................................................... 46 5.4 Uncertainties ....................................................................................................... 47 5.5 Summary............................................................................................................. 47 6 Option Generation and Sifting..................................................................................... 49 6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 49 6.2 Do Nothing .......................................................................................................... 49 6.3 Do Minimum........................................................................................................ 49 6.4 Vessels ............................................................................................................... 50 6.5 Terminals ............................................................................................................ 51 6.6 Crewing............................................................................................................... 51 6.7 Timetable ............................................................................................................ 51 6.8 Fixed Link............................................................................................................ 52 6.9 Other Options...................................................................................................... 54 6.10 Options Taken Forward to STAG Part 1 Appraisal............................................. 54 6.11 Summary............................................................................................................. 55 7 STAG Part 1 Appraisal.................................................................................................. 57 7.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 57 7.2 Performance Against Planning Objectives ......................................................... 57 7.3 Implementability.................................................................................................. 61 7.4 Performance Against Government Objectives ................................................... 62 7.5 Outcome of Appraisal ......................................................................................... 64 7.6 Summary............................................................................................................. 64 8 Option Development ..................................................................................................... 67 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 67 8.2 Confirming Patterns of Use................................................................................. 67 8.3 Vessel Replacement........................................................................................... 70 8.4 Sample Ferry Timetables.................................................................................... 70 8.5 Ferry Terminal Replacement .............................................................................. 71 8.6 Fixed Link............................................................................................................ 72 8.7 Impacts on Local Service Delivery...................................................................... 72 8.8 STAG Part 2 Appraisal ....................................................................................... 73 9 Environment .................................................................................................................. 75 9.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 75 9.2 Environment Sub-Criteria ................................................................................... 75 9.3 Infrastructure Elements......................................................................................