Hjaltland Housing Association Ltd celebrated the 50th anniversary of the organisation at an event in Mareel. Staff and committee members were joined by contractors, past employees, councillors, community group and tenant forum representatives and other colleagues engaged with the delivery of housing and support services in Shetland.
The Association was established in 1975 as a registered society, and later became Hjaltland Housing Association Ltd when the organisation merged with Scottish Airports Ltd in 1980; a partnership which helped to address the urgent need for additional housing for incoming workforce in the oil industry.
The organisation now has housing schemes across mainland and isle’s locations, with more than 885 homes – having started in 1975 with seven properties at Kalliness in Weisdale and 12 at Sanblister place in Virkie. The most recent additions to the estate were completed in 2024 and included two properties in Ladies Mire, Brae; four homes at Forralea in Walls; six at Marthastoon in Aith and four in Berryview phase two in Scalloway.
The priority to support the housing sector in Shetland remains at the core of the organisation with its vision of ‘Providing homes. Supporting Communities.’
As the association has grown, it has evolved to meet tenant needs with the introduction of tenant groups, the One Stop Shop, Care and Repair Programme, shared ownership and choice-based lettings systems, giving tenants more control and choice over allocations.
The association has ambitious plans to continue a programme of building and maintaining high-quality affordable homes, considering energy efficient designs and net-zero targets. By listening to tenants and engaging them in the development of service provision, Hjaltland Housing Association Ltd are committed to meeting demand and improving lives for tenants – now and into the future.
The innovative designs applied to the Association’s housing schemes throughout the years have brought various award recognitions including:
John Jamieson Closs – 1982/84 – Richard Gibson Architects
Saltire Society Award for ‘New Housing Project’ 1982.
Civic Trust Commendation for contribution to ‘Quality and Appearance of the environment’1984.
Da Vadill – 2012 – Richard Gibson Architects
Shortlisted for the Inverness Architectural Association ‘Best Building’ Award 2012.
Winner of the Saltire Society Design Award for small Housing Developments 2012.
Winner of the Inverness Architectural Association ‘New Building’ Award 2012.
Grodians – 2012 – Richard Gibson Architects
Commendation for the Saltire Society Design Award for Large Housing Developments 2012.
Winner of the Inverness Architectural Association ‘Place Making’ Award 2012.
Winner / RIAS 2012 Awards.
Special Mention / 2012 RIAS Andrew Doolan 'Best Building in Scotland' award!
Regional Finalist / Civic Trust Awards.
King Harald Street – 2022 – PJP Architects LLP
Commended in the Highlands + Islands Architectural Associations social benefit award category.
Houlland Lea – 2022 – PJP Architects LLP
Rural & Island Housing Association Forum (RIHAF) Rural Development of the year award.
The Staneyhill project, already underway, will see 300 new homes built to help address the significant unmet demand for affordable housing in our community.
Association Chief Executive, Bryan Leask said: “We were delighted to welcome so many of our current and past colleagues, tenants and partners to celebrate this milestone anniversary with us.
“Hjaltland Housing Association has gone from strength to strength over the last 50 years and we will continue to strive for quality, affordability and satisfaction in the properties and services we deliver.
“We are all very excited to see the next stage of work commencing at the Staneyhill project, which will be the largest single site scheme in our portfolio, providing safe, energy efficient and welcoming homes to more than 300 new tenancies.”
