This contract award by Shetland Islands Council follows a tender exercise which attracted significant interest from local and mainland-based companies.

7N Architects has a proven track record in Shetland, having undertaken previous work on the Knab Redevelopment Masterplan in 2017, and it retains an advisory role in that project.

The masterplan will look at all options available, sympathetic to the established character of the area, and provide innovative solutions to meet the needs of the community.

A series of public consultation exercises will take place in the coming months and anyone with views is encouraged to share them. Details will be announced soon, with a desire to complete work by the end of March 2024 and then report to the council soon after.

Neil Grant, director of development, said: “Securing the services of 7N Architects is a major step forward for this project – they have already demonstrated that they understand the local environment, and have a professional and highly qualified team. I look forward to the detail of their work that will help us to build up a picture of what the Lerwick Lanes area could look like in the future.”