18 February 2008
SUMBURGH HEAD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT GETS BACKING FROM TRUST
Shetland Development Trust is pleased to confirm that following this afternoon’s Trust meeting; Trustees’ have agreed the proposal to invest £1.5 million with the Shetland Amenity Trust in their bid to restore the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse into a leading visitor attraction and self-catering accommodation.
The Sumburgh Head Development Project is led by the Shetland Amenity Trust, who hope to restore the Category A listed Stevenson Lighthouse building, one of Scotland’s finest pieces of surviving early nineteenth century architecture.
The Shetland Amenity Trust plan to refurbish the lighthouse buildings, complex and surrounding area to create a first class visitor attraction at the site by:
- Refurbishing the Lighthouse buildings into a visitor centre to tell the story of the lighthouse and interpreting the wildlife and marine environment within the area
- Creating year round 3 and 4 star accommodation in self-catering apartments
- Establishing RSPB and Rangers offices
- Improving access and parking
- Creating a small cafeteria with toilet facilities and retail outlet
The Shetland Amenity Trust is also hoping to secure financial resources from Historic Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB bringing the project costs to £3.9 million. It is expected that the project will take 3 years to complete, using local skills from the Shetland Amenity Trust team, with up to 12 people being tasked to carefully restore these historic buildings.
Shetland Amenity Trust, General Manager, Jimmy Moncrieff said “ We are delighted to have received this investment from the Shetland Development Trust to make this significant heritage investment. The project is really exciting for the tourist industry and having this local backing gives a strong commitment to this project and further enhancing quality facilities available for our tourists”.
Josie Simpson, Chair of the Shetland Development Trust said, “ The Sumburgh Head Development Project is a very unique and marketable heritage project. The site is the number one outdoor attraction for visitors coming to Shetland, and making this investment will help Shetland to display our quality heritage products to attract more tourists into Shetland and increase the growing value of the sector within the local economy.”