Lerwick Town Hall has been upgraded to a category A-listed building – raising hopes it can secure funding for repairs.
Shetland Islands Council was unsuccessful in its bid to have the historic building regraded back in 2014.
But a fresh application to Historic Environment Scotland was approved yesterday.
The local authority believes the move will strengthen its position when applying for external funding to help support the project.
The work would involve repairs to the iconic stained glass windows in the main hall as well as repairs to the associated stonework and roofing.
Shetland Amenity Trust has been appointed as project manager for the work and Groves Raines Architects will take on the role of principal designer and lead consultant.
Council Convener Malcolm Bell: “I’m extremely pleased to see the new grading for the Town Hall, which will hopefully help us access external funding to safeguard these beautiful windows for the future.
“We’ve been monitoring their condition for several years now, and the recent spell of bad weather just highlights the very real risk of more, perhaps irreparable, damage occurring.
“It is the council’s responsibility to preserve the Town Hall for the people of Shetland, and we would be held accountable if we didn’t now move quickly to prevent any more deterioration.
“The work is scheduled to get under way over the next few months, and I’m hopeful that before too long the public will be able to enjoy these windows in their full glory once more.”