From time to time conservation areas are reviewed with the aim of ensuring that the area justifies such status because of its special architectural or historic interest. A Conservation Area Appraisal is prepared which sets out the special qualities of the area which merit preserving and enhancing. The appraisal also aims to identify issues that may threaten the special qualities of these conservation areas, to provide guidance to enhance the areas, and to help inform planning practice and policy.
Shetland Islands Council adopted conservation area appraisals for all three conservation areas in Shetland (Lerwick Lanes, Lerwick New Town and Scalloway) in 2010. A review of those appraisals has been carried out in order to ensure they are up to date with changes in planning policy and guidance and to reflect any changes to the conservation areas.
The public consultation period ended on Tuesday 4th November 2025.
Revised character appraisal documents.
Lerwick Lanes Conservation Area Character Appraisal (Reviewed 2024)
Adopted in December 2025
Lerwick New Town Conservation Area Character Appraisal (Reviewed 2024)
Adopted in December 2025
Scalloway Conservation Area Character Appraisal (Reviewed 2024)
Adopted in December 2025
Please click on the following web link to view conservation area mapping layers online:
Conservation Area Analysis Mapping
The online survey was delivered by Shetland Islands Council using Microsoft Forms. Shetland Islands Council receives only the data that you enter and submit. Microsoft’s privacy statement can be found here: Microsoft's privacy statement
To maximise the impact of the data and to enable further use or comparison between future and past surveys, the anonymised data and analysis will be held indefinitely by Shetland Islands Council and may be published for public accessor shared with other local public and community organisations.
For privacy or data protection enquiries, you should contact the Data Protection Officer as follows:
- In writing to Data Protection Officer, Shetland Islands Council, Corporate Services Department, 8 North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0LZ
- By telephone on 01595 744 551
- By email at dataprotection@shetland.gov.uk.