Shetland Islands Council is seeking the views of the community on the proposed replacement of the Brae community football pitch, as part of the wider plans for the future of Brae High School
Following early stakeholder engagement two options have been recognised for the replacement of the Brae community grass pitch, which has been identified as the preferred site for the proposed New Brae Campus buildings.
These options were presented to elected members at the Shetland Islands Council meeting held on 25 March. Members agreed that an options appraisal should be undertaken to assess the alternatives in more detail. The outcome of this appraisal will be reported to Members at a future meeting, where a decision will be taken on the preferred option to move forward.
The existing community grass pitch in Brae is the only football playing field in the North Mainland and is the home ground of Delting Football Club. Any replacement pitch must meet competitive football standards and continue to support both community and sporting use. The existing synthetic hockey pitch at Brae is the only facility in Shetland suitable for competitive hockey and is currently owned by Shetland Recreational Trust.
While the International Federation for Association Football (FIFA) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) are working towards a shared multi‑sport surface standard, no surface currently meets the performance requirements for both football and hockey. As a result, pitches must continue to be designated for either football or hockey, not both.
Officers working on the Brae Campus project will be available next week to discuss options with any interested parties and to take comments, on:
- Wednesday 15th April, at the reception area of Clickimin Leisure Centre, Lerwick, from 2pm to 5pm
- Thursday 16th April, at the secondary department of Brae High School, from 4pm to 7pm
An online survey is also available at New Brae Campus - Synthetic Pitch Proposals for anyone to respond with their views. The survey is open now and the deadline for responses is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 22nd April 2026.
Once the consultation closes, responses will be analysed for a report presented to Councillors to seek approval for a preferred option. The Full Business Case for the Brae Campus is expected to be considered by Councillors in early 2027.