Shetland Islands Council has granted planning permission for a new carpark which will allow access to miles of local scenic trails.
The SSE Renewables North carpark project was formally approved by the council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday.
It also means visitors will benefit from SSE Renewables’ work with disability charity Ability Shetland as a specialist all terrain wheelchair, which was funded by the business, along with Ability Shetland’s adapted e-bikes, can now be stored at the location in a new secure container.
Stephanie Bain of Ability Shetland said: “Enjoying the great outdoors is one of the most popular activities in Shetland, whether you’re visiting or are resident here. By having a dedicated parking area and storage space, it will allow people to access equipment such as the all-terrain wheelchairs, which hopefully removes any barriers from them being able to explore the outdoors.”
Once complete, the development, which includes a carpark and picnic area, will offer better access for the local community and visitors wanting to utilise local trails.
Work on the carpark will begin once pre-construction activities are completed.
In the meantime, while final construction activities take place on site, public access restrictions remain in place to protect the safety of the public and our staff while this work is ongoing.
It is expected that restrictions will be lifted once this has completed.
Mark MacDonald, Head of Asset Operations Onshore Wind, Solar, Battery (GB & Ireland), SSE Renewables said: “We are pleased the new carpark has been approved by Shetland Islands Council.
“The proposals were drawn up following extensive engagement with the local community, Shetland Islands Council Outdoor Access Forum and various groups such as cyclists and equestrians. Once delivered, the carpark will offer free safe parking, away from the A970, opening-up local trails suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding.”
The carpark will be sufficient in size to allow horse boxes to park, allow walkers and cyclists to park.
About SSE Renewables
SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, focusing on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage. Part of energy infrastructure company SSE plc, UK-listed in the FTSE100, it is delivering clean power assets to increase SSE’s operational renewable generation capacity from 5GW today to up to 9GW by 2027 as part of a ~£20bn clean energy plan, the five-year Net Zero Acceleration Programme (NZAP) Plus. This includes delivery of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm. SSE Renewables has a team of over 2,000 renewable energy professionals with a passion for championing clean energy delivery, each based across the markets in which it operates. Its core market focus is on the UK and Ireland, with a growing international presence in carefully selected markets in Continental Europe and Japan.