Shetland Islands Council (SIC) has granted planning permission for Viking wind farm’s temporary main construction compound southeast of Sandwater.

The site will cover a maximum area of 250 square meters along an access route off the A970 main road. During the four-year construction process of the wind farm, offices, workshops, a canteen and other welfare facilities will be provided to the workers along with a laydown area for storing plant, fuel, equipment and supplies.

Work on the main compound and its access track is set to begin later this year as an early part of the main wind farm construction program. The coming weeks will see the hiring of a civil engineering contractor.

“We are pleased to receive planning permission for the compound and hope that many Shetlanders and visitors will enjoy making use of the access tracks throughout the wind farm, once completed, for recreation and to visit parts of the islands that few people will have been through before. By then, the construction compound will have been removed and the ground reinstated.”

Viking Energy wind farm spokesperson.