Shetland Councillors Back £1.5bn Undersea Tunnel Plan as Ageing Ferries Cost £23m a Year
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 30
Shetland Councillors Back £1.5bn Undersea Tunnel Plan as Ageing Ferries Cost £23m a Year
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 30
Summary
Lerwick councillors approved work on funding options for a £1.5 billion undersea tunnel network linking mainland Shetland to Yell and Unst, with Whalsay and Bressay possible later.
Eight years is the projected delivery timeline—three for preliminary work and five for construction—as the council argues tunnels would be cheaper long term than replacing ferries and harbours.
£23 million a year now goes on ferry services to nine islands, where 12 vessels carry about 750,000 passengers but face rising costs, vehicle-capacity shortages and crewing problems.
Unst, home to the Saxavord spaceport and aquaculture businesses, is expected to gain from faster access to labour and freight, with the study calling the tunnels economically transformative.
Faroe Islands subsea links shaped the plan, and Shetland leaders say funding could mix private investment, public subsidy, borrowing and tolls.
The Faroes built tunnels fast and cheap. Can Shetland avoid the delays and high costs of UK infrastructure projects?
Can Shetland's £1.5B tunnel dream overcome a Treasury rulebook that says ferries are cheaper?
Shetland’s Undersea Tunnel Plan: A £400 Million Investment to Reverse Depopulation and Boost the Economy
Overview
The Shetland Islands Council has fully backed an ambitious plan to build a network of undersea tunnels, aiming to replace costly ferries and harbours with a more permanent solution. This bold project has gained national attention, with council leaders highlighting its significance both locally and across Scotland. By successfully raising the issue on the national agenda and securing support from major political parties, the council is now working closely with the UK and Scottish Governments to turn recommendations from a detailed study into action. These efforts are paving the way for a new era of reliable connectivity for the Shetland Islands.