Old Library to be given new lease on life

Plans to develop the Old Library building in Kirkwall into 14 residential units have been given the go-ahead today, despite a recommendation for refusal by the planning department.

The green light for the redevelopment was handed to the building’s owner, Neil Stevenson, by Orkney Islands Council’s planning committee this Wednesday afternoon.

The council’s roads services team had objected to Mr Stevenson’s Laing Street scheme — which includes 10 houses and four flats — on the grounds that it would have insufficient parking (as is required by national planning guidance). However, elected members approved the plan, pointing out that other developments have occurred in the town centre without requiring parking.

As well as the importance of this kind of accommodation for boosting housing stock, the committee made the case that the development was valuable in that it would prevent the historic building from falling into disrepair.

It was approved, subject to conditions that will be negotiated between the officers and the developer.

For the full story, see next week’s edition of The Orcadian.