Pre-Planning Application - Consultation No2

Shetland Islands Council (Transport Planning) intend to submit an application to Shetland Islands Council (SIC) planning authority and Marine Scotland for upgrade works to the existing ferry terminals at North Haven, Fair Isle and Grutness, Shetland Mainland.

North Haven, Fair Isle
The proposal is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Development and includes the formation of a new quay structure between the north end of the existing quay and existing breakwater, a new linkspan and new lighting. The existing breakwater will be increased in size and height and repairs will be carried out on the existing pier. The existing cradle, noust, slipway and winch will be replaced. Dredging is also required to provide sufficient water depth for the new vessel.

Grutness, Shetland Mainland
At Grutness, the existing pier and rock armour will be extended, as well as the existing rock armour height being increased. Dredging will also be required here to accommodate the new vessel.

The aim of the development is to provide a new roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry for Fair Isle.
 

The current ferry (MV Good Shepherd IV) is the only supply chain link to the island and entered service on the Fair Isle route in 1986. The ferry only has an estimated four years of residual life left and does not meet modern standards. The current ferry has a length of 18 metres and has a passenger capacity of 12. It is broadly similar to a traditional fishing vessel and uses a vessel mounted crane to deliver cargo.
The current ferry is entirely deficient in meeting disabled access requirements and is not considered to provide a comfortable experience for passengers.
The current service is also considered unreliable and crossing times are long.
In 2018, only 22% of sailings operated to timetable. The crane-based operation also places limits on the weight/type of goods carried.

Whilst the primary mode of travel to/ from Fair Isle for both visitors and residents is the air service via Fair Isle Airport, the ferry predominantly fulfils the supply-chain needs of the island. The ferry is also used by passengers when the air service is fully booked or disrupted or there is a requirement to take equipment/goods which cannot be carried on the air service. If the existing ferry is not replaced in the short-term, there is a substantial risk of community failure as Fair Isle will have to be served by a mainland vessel and crew. This will significantly limit timetable flexibility due to restrictions on crew operating hours and markedly reduce the overall number of connections to the island.

The preferred option for a replacement vessel is a maximum 24-metre length Ro-Ro ferry certified for a maximum of 12 passengers.

The existing harbours at both Fair Isle and Grutness require a range of upgrades to accommodate the new vessel due to its larger size.

The passenger capacity of the new vessel will remain as 12, to ensure that it can be sustainably crewed from the island. This is essential both from an operational perspective (allowing the service to operate in weather windows) and in terms of maintaining high-quality salaried jobs on Fair Isle (retaining the crew and their families on-island). 

The programme of works has been built around the limited funding windows which roughly corresponds to the remaining lifespan of MV Good Shepherd IV, with construction to be complete by April 2026. At present the aim is to submit the consent applications for Grutness and Fair Isle by March 2023, allowing a six-month determination period and consent to be obtained by September 2023. Contracts for infrastructure works will need to be awarded at the end of 2023 to allow contractors to mobilise the site in early 2024. It is expected the new ferry will be operational by April 2026.

The project will hopefully be funded by the UK Government’s Levelling-Up Fund. The funding is required for both the replacement vessel and improving the harbour infrastructure at Fair Isle and Grutness.

If successful with the Levelling-Up Fund bid, the funding is specific towards a transport investment and must be directed entirely towards this project – in line with the funding bid.

The new vessel will have a higher deadweight capacity and will thus be less limited in the quantity of goods which can be moved in a single sailing. This will assist in importing e.g., construction materials to the island, allowing larger island-based cars to be moved to the mainland for servicing etc. The cost of moving items to/from the island will be reduced.

The new ferry would also help to increase the proportion of total tourists visiting the Fair Isle. A more reliable and comfortable vessel would provide tourists with a more attractive alternative route onto / off the island including when the air service is disrupted. Two-thirds of Fair Isle residents thought that current connections were not sufficient for tourism.

The emerging specification for the ferry defines a faster vessel than is currently operated. The increase in speed and improved seakeeping will reduce crossing times, and coupled with Ro–Ro off operation, allow for tighter weather windows, thus improving compliance with the timetable and potentially facilitating a higher frequency service.

The new ferry will improve the efficiency and coverage of public service delivery, particularly education and health.

The procurement of a workboat-coded vessel will facilitate an island-based service, which is operationally essential in terms of delivering sailings when weather permits. Basing the vessel in Fair Isle also protects the employment of the seven island crew. This is essential to the economic wellbeing of Fair Isle, both in terms of the direct income of the crew (who hold some of the few salaried posts on the island) and also in ensuring that they and their families remain in the island and continue to fulfil their multiple other roles, such as providing fire cover at the airfield. Without this, the island could not function.

The new vessel will comply with all modern standards in terms of passenger accessibility. The conversion to Ro-Ro will allow level-access boarding by passengers at all states of the tide, which will be of particular benefit to the elderly population.
 

The construction phase is likely to generate direct employment, however the scale of the employment and economic activity generated by this would be temporary and is unlikely to have any wider socioeconomic affect. A key benefit of the development however is that basing the ferry on Fair Isle will protect the employment of the existing crew.

The project team is currently preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statement for Fair Isle to accompany the consent applications which will consider ecology, heritage, landscape, visual and climate change impacts amongst other matters. A range of other environmental assessments and management plans have also been undertaken and will be submitted.

The works required at Grutness are significantly less than Fair Isle and therefore does not constitute an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. This has been confirmed through the Environmental Screening Opinion Process. Technical studies and other supporting documents will also be submitted to explain how relevant design principles and mitigation measures have been applied to ensure avoidance of any significant adverse effects.
 

Fair Isle has a very limited road network, consisting only of rough surface single-track roads. It is not anticipated that that the construction of the pier or operation of the ferry will significantly increase the minimal traffic movements to, from or within Fair Isle. Accordingly minimal impact is expected at Grutness.

A potential concern in relation to the adoption of Ro-Ro is the potential for increased vehicular traffic on Fair Isle. Whilst the size of the vessel and the length and frequency of the crossing will always limit this to some degree, implementation of a permit system akin to that used on islands such as Iona and the Small Isles will be actively considered. This is not expected to be an issue however.

All of Fair Isle is a Special Protected Area (SPA) and a significant proportion of Fair Isle is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There is also a nationally designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is therefore of fundamental importance to ensure that any impacts on local ecology are minimised and mitigated. This will be addressed within the EIA and other related assessments and plans such as the Habitats Regulation Assessment, Outline Design Plans, draft Construction Environmental Management Plan and a Biosecurity Plan.

The development at Fair Isle and Grutness is not considered to affect flood risk. Existing flood risk from tidal effects will be unchanged after the development.

During design and procurement of the new vessel, options to operate a ‘green’ propulsion system / vessel will be considered to help reduce the emissions associated with the vessel operation, aligning with the council’s net zero target.
The new vessel will be better equipped to carry sustainable forms of transport such as bicycles, whether accompanied by the passenger or freight only if the passenger chooses to travel by air. This would also improve the visitor experience to Fair Isle.

Due to the rural setting and remote location of the sites on Fair Isle and Grutness, any noise impacts are likely to be insignificant. Notwithstanding this, any adverse effects on air quality, soundscapes and vibration will be controlled to an acceptable level through standard site management and construction practices. The nearest habitable building on Fair Isle is approximately 300m south west of the site and is unlikely to be affected by construction noise.

We are able to engage with local people both physically and digitally.  Our interactive website will provide you with all the information you need to learn about the plans https://www.shetland.gov.uk/fair-isle-ferry-replacement

In-person public events will also be held on 5th December at Fair Isle Primary School and 6th December at the Sumburgh Hotel, where you can speak directly to the project team. We anticipate a second consultation event will take place in both locations in February 2023.

This is a significant investment for the future of Fair Isle, and we want to ensure that local people have all the information about what the proposal means for both Grutness and Fair Isle.  We have been committed to engagement throughout this process and as we prepare to submit the applications for consent, we want local people to continue to be involved.

Feedback can be provided at the in-person events or the project website by 15th January 2023. You can also contact the project team on 01595 744868 or by email at fairisleferryproject@shetland.gov.uk.

Written feedback can be sent to:

Stantec UK,
3rd Floor,
Capital Square,
58 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8BP.

Feedback will be collected and stored in line with General Data Protection Regulations and privacy guidelines.

All feedback received will be analysed by the project team and comments will be considered in preparing the consent applications.

Following the close of the engagement period, the project team will review the feedback received before submitting the consent applications. 

We are currently aiming to submit the consent applications for Grutness and Fair Isle by March 2023

If the consent applications are submitted in March 2023, this will allow a six-month determination period and achieving consent during September 2023. 

This allows time to discharge any consent conditions that require involvement from the contractors in advance of site work starting in February 2024. 

Ground Investigations will take place in early 2023 for Fair Isle and Grutness. This work will take approximately up to 8 weeks (however weather dependent).

The main construction process is expected to take place over two summer seasons due the weather restrictions during winter months. 

Fair Isle:
Phase 1 February – September 2024 (Approx. 8 months)
Phase 2 March -September 2025 (Approx. 7 months)

Grutness:
Phase 1 April – October 2024 (approx. 7 months)
Phase 2 April – September 2025 (approx. 6 months)