Planning approval for demolition of crofthouse ruins near mobile mast

Planning approval has been granted for the demolition of a stone crofthouse in Shetland, which had been described as a possible health and safety risk.

The house, called Houllanstourie, is located next to an EE mobile mast near to the end of the road in Heylor.

The mast has been installed in recent years, as well as tracks and a laydown area.

It was required for the UK Government’s emergency services network project, which is replacing airwave blue-light communications with a 4G system.

A tall metal communication tower stands on a grassy hill, enclosed by a fenced area with a small green building and a satellite dish nearby.

The crofthouse building sits in the middle of it all, with planning permission sought for its demolition.

This has now been granted, with the demolition part of a wider application which includes some retrospective elements.

The mast was given planning consent in 2021 but a new application had been submitted, which included some changes – including the demolition of the crofthouse, and construction of a gabion wall.

A condition attached to the new consent says demolition cannot take place until a photographic survey of the building is completed.

The survey will then be deposited with the Shetland Sites and Monuments Record.

Roy Mullay, who grew up in Heylor and has family links to the building, previously said he felt demolishing the crofthouse would be an “affront” to the preservation of the history of the area.

Northmaven Community Council had questioned why the house needs to be demolished since the mast has already been constructed.

But a planning representative for EE said the demolition is required for safety reasons as the land is “unlikely to be able to support the building for long” following engineering works at the site for an access road to the mast.

They said these works were more extensive than originally envisaged and have had a “negative impact on the integrity of the land on which the ruin sits”.

A covering letter previously sent to the SIC’s planning service said the “demolition of the remains of the cottage has already been agreed with both the owners of the land, Shetland Council, and the tenant”.

The owner of the building and croft, John Sandison, previously said the house is in a state of disrepair and the decision was taken to demolish to “ensure the safety of the site” and to prevent another landslide there.