UHI Shetland Shifts Focus from Knab Development for Student Housing

UHI Shetland has decided to abandon plans for student accommodation at the Knab development site in Lerwick due to concerns regarding the project’s viability. The decision marks a significant shift in the college’s strategy, as previous plans had included a creative hub with student housing at the former Anderson High School location. However, UHI Shetland’s principal and CEO, Professor Jane Lewis, announced that the college will instead focus on reinstating accommodation at its Port Arthur House facility in Scalloway.

Lewis expressed concerns about the financial sustainability of the Knab project, indicating that the college board deemed it unfeasible in the current economic climate. “We’re still keen to develop student accommodation, but we will not be doing that at the Knab,” she told Shetland News. This decision follows earlier discussions about utilizing existing structures, such as the Janet Courtney Hostel, for student housing, which has now been earmarked for conversion into flats by the Shetland Islands Council (SIC).

Changing Plans for Student Accommodation

The Knab redevelopment initiative is part of a broader effort by the Shetland Islands Council to transform the former school site into a mixed-use area with a focus on housing. A report from a recent SIC meeting revealed that the council is set to receive up to £9.6 million from the Scottish Government as part of the islands’ growth deal, with £3 million allocated for a creative hub and £500,000 specifically for student accommodation.

Despite the initial intentions for a combined creative hub and student housing project at the Knab site, Lewis highlighted that ongoing financial challenges rendered such plans “too uncertain.” The chair of the UHI Shetland board, Stephen Leask, deemed the student accommodation project “unfundable” and emphasized the difficulties in securing sustainable financing.

Future Focus on Port Arthur House

In light of the decision regarding Knab, UHI Shetland is now shifting its attention to Port Arthur House, located opposite the college’s Scalloway campus. Plans are underway to develop a business case for reinstating accommodation in the building, which previously housed nearly 30 students before its temporary closure in 2018 due to structural issues. Lewis noted that the aim is to bring the building up to net zero standards, with ongoing assessments of its structural integrity.

Previously, a proposal to convert the upper floors of Port Arthur House into office space was withdrawn following objections from the SIC’s roads department. Additionally, there had been an earlier initiative by a mainland company to construct a student accommodation building on Lerwick’s Commercial Road, but this project did not materialize.

As the Knab redevelopment continues, the council is prioritizing the renovation of the Janet Courtney Hostel, which is expected to commence shortly. An update from the SIC in July indicated a reversal in funding cuts, effectively increasing the budget for affordable housing in Shetland. Local contractor Tulloch Developments Limited has begun infrastructure work on the Knab site, where a total of 145 housing units are planned in phases.

The council remains committed to collaborating with UHI Shetland and Shetland Arts to explore potential options for the creative hub, which could include facilities like artists’ studios, galleries, and darkrooms. As developments progress, the future of student accommodation in the Shetland Islands continues to evolve, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities within the region.