A Shetland hotel owner has raised an action in the Court of Session against a decision to allow a ‘temporary’ camp for gas plant workers to remain open.
The accommodation block at Sella Ness opened in 2011 to provide a home-from-home for over 800 construction workers on the Shetland Gas Plant (SGP).
The 426-room facility was originally to be removed in 2015, but that was first extended to 2020 and it now looks likely to continue in use until 2026.
While Shetland Islands Council decided to reject the extension of temporary planning permission, that has since been overturned by a Scottish Government reporter.
The firm behind the plan, Malthus Uniteam, pointed to possible future demand from wind farm projects – as well as interest from the oil and gas sector – as evidence of why the building should remain open until 2026.
Now the owner of the Moorfield Hotel in Shetland has taken the “flawed decision” to the Court of Session.
Director Stuart McCaffer said: “The Sella Ness camp only ever had a temporary consent and therefore was never meant to be a permanent feature offering rooms to oil and gas workers.
“We believe that this decision is flawed for a number of legal reasons, including the reporter’s failure to consider the socio-economic impact of the camp.
“We have therefore taken steps to fight the reporter’s decision and do what we can to remove this camp.
“If the camp survives it will have a significant impact on the wider economy of north mainland.
“We as owners of the Moorfield Hotel will do whatever we can to correct this flawed decision.”
The Scottish Government’s assistant chief reporter Karen Heywood said Shetland Islands Council had failed to give the applicant “complete, precise and relevant reasons for refusal”.
Malthus Uniteam was contacted for comment.
Previously the firm has warned planners that closing the facility could lead to companies scaling back operations at Sullom Voe due to an apparent lack of accommodation.
Bosses said wind farm construction projects could also be affected.
The company pointed to the proposed Viking, Mossy Hill, Beaw Field and Energy Isles wind farms as bringing a potential combined accommodation demand for up to 450 construction workers.
It also says there is life yet in the oil and gas industry, pointing to last week’s news that oil has started flowing into Sullom Voe Terminal from the Clair Ridge development west of Shetland.
