Shetland councillors back plans to build tunnels to link some of largest islands
Guardian AU Business
β’Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:50:58 GMT
π° What Happened
Shetland Islands Council voted on Tuesday to back plans to build up to four subsea tunnels connecting some of the archipelago's largest and most populated islands. The council voted to investigate financing options for the first two tunnels, which would link Shetland's Mainland with the northern islands of Yell and Unst. The two projects, which would be the first of their kind in Scotland, are expected to cost approximately Β£655 million to build and take at least eight years to complete. Council leader Emma Macdonald said the council would press the Scottish and UK governments for financial assistance, as the cost is unaffordable for Shetland alone. Macdonald argued that 'islands with fixed links repopulate, enjoy economic growth and experience a reduction in their average age,' emphasizing that there is no 'do nothing' option. Islanders on Yell and Unst have campaigned for years for fixed links to replace ageing and unreliable ferries, which have contributed to depopulation as families leave, businesses close, and parents are forced to live away from home for work.
π The Backstory
Shetland is an archipelago in the North Atlantic, located about 170 km north of mainland Scotland. It has a population of approximately 23,000 people spread across multiple islands. The islands of Yell and Unst are among the largest but have suffered from chronic depopulation due to unreliable ferry services that are vulnerable to weather disruptions and mechanical failures. Similar subsea tunnel projects exist in Norway's fjord regions and the Faroe Islands, where fixed links have successfully transformed remote communities. The Shetland tunnels would need to be built at significant depth beneath the sea floor, presenting major engineering challenges. The project is part of a broader conversation about transport infrastructure for Scotland's island communities, which have long argued that they are overlooked in national infrastructure planning.
π― Why It Matters
The Shetland tunnel project represents a transformative infrastructure investment for one of the UK's most remote island communities. If successful, it could reverse decades of population decline and economic stagnation by providing reliable transport links. The project also serves as a test case for subsea tunnel infrastructure in Scotland, potentially paving the way for similar projects in other island communities like Orkney and the Hebrides.
Shetland Islands Council voted on Tuesday to back plans to build up to four subsea tunnels connecting some of the archipelago's largest and most populated islands. The council voted to investigate financing options for the first two tunnels, which would link Shetland's Mainland with the northern islands of Yell and Unst. The two projects, which would be the first of their kind in Scotland, are expected to cost approximately Β£655 million to build and take at least eight years to complete. Council leader Emma Macdonald said the council would press the Scottish and UK governments for financial assistance, as the cost is unaffordable for Shetland alone. Macdonald argued that 'islands with fixed links repopulate, enjoy economic growth and experience a reduction in their average age,' emphasizing that there is no 'do nothing' option. Islanders on Yell and Unst have campaigned for years for fixed links to replace ageing and unreliable ferries, which have contributed to depopulation as families leave, businesses close, and parents are forced to live away from home for work.
Shetland is an archipelago in the North Atlantic, located about 170 km north of mainland Scotland. It has a population of approximately 23,000 people spread across multiple islands. The islands of Yell and Unst are among the largest but have suffered from chronic depopulation due to unreliable ferry services that are vulnerable to weather disruptions and mechanical failures. Similar subsea tunnel projects exist in Norway's fjord regions and the Faroe Islands, where fixed links have successfully transformed remote communities. The Shetland tunnels would need to be built at significant depth beneath the sea floor, presenting major engineering challenges. The project is part of a broader conversation about transport infrastructure for Scotland's island communities, which have long argued that they are overlooked in national infrastructure planning.
The Shetland tunnel project represents a transformative infrastructure investment for one of the UK's most remote island communities. If successful, it could reverse decades of population decline and economic stagnation by providing reliable transport links. The project also serves as a test case for subsea tunnel infrastructure in Scotland, potentially paving the way for similar projects in other island communities like Orkney and the Hebrides.