MGA appointed for 260 proposed Orkney homes

Places for People Scotland has appointed Michael Gilmour Associates to develop feasibility and design proposals for approximately 260 homes across two sites in Kirkwall, advancing its partnership with Orkney Islands Council to increase affordable housing provision.

The architectural appointment follows a competitive tender process and covers the former Papdale Halls of Residence site and land at Weyland. Around 60 affordable rented homes are proposed at Papdale Halls, while the larger Weyland development could provide approximately 200 properties for affordable sale and rent.

The two schemes form part of a wider agreement between Places for People Scotland and Orkney Islands Council, established in December 2025, with the ambition of delivering up to 500 new homes across the islands over ten years.

Michael Gilmour Associates, also known as MGA Architecture, will assess the planning requirements, site constraints, development costs, and practical deliverability of both proposed developments. The appointment establishes a design and feasibility stage rather than authorising construction, with the eventual number and arrangement of homes dependent on further work.

At Papdale Halls, preparations are progressing to clear the existing buildings before residential development can be considered. Orkney Islands Council approved the award of a demolition contract on 4 November, following a programme of investigations, surveys, and procurement activity.

The former residential hostel provided accommodation for school pupils travelling from different parts of the archipelago. The buildings have been largely vacant since 2013, although part of the premises has continued to accommodate Willow Tree Nursery.

Demolition is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and continue until spring 2028. The council has secured the planning permissions and building warrant needed for the demolition, but has not yet disclosed the successful contractor or the value of the award.

The approved demolition programme is separate from the proposed residential development. Clearing the existing structures will prepare the site for potential reuse, but the sale of the land to Places for People remains subject to commercial and legal arrangements.

Any subsequent housing development will also require its own planning process. Permission to demolish the hostel does not establish approval for the proposed 60 homes, and the feasibility work must still determine whether the anticipated residential layout can be delivered within the site's constraints.

Site investigations will need to establish the physical conditions affecting construction and the infrastructure necessary to serve the development. These assessments can influence building positions, access arrangements, drainage design, and the number of properties that can be accommodated within an available site.

The redevelopment process must also take account of the change from a former institutional use to residential accommodation. The previous buildings, access routes, and utility connections were designed for different operating requirements, and the proposed housing layout will need to satisfy the standards applicable to its intended use.

The council's demolition programme will remove the existing accommodation before the future housing proposals are implemented. The extended timetable means the site is unlikely to be available for unrestricted residential construction until the necessary clearance work has progressed sufficiently.

The second development site at Weyland is expected to accommodate the larger share of the proposed housing. Approximately 200 homes are under consideration, with a mix of affordable sale and rental tenures intended to meet different local housing needs.

The precise configuration of the Weyland scheme has not been established. MGA will need to assess the relationship between potential residential capacity, site infrastructure, access, construction costs, and the requirements of the local planning process.

Those considerations are particularly relevant in Orkney, where construction logistics differ from mainland development. Materials and specialist equipment may need to be transported by sea, while the availability of local contractors, suppliers, and labour can influence procurement and delivery programmes.

Transport arrangements must be considered alongside the scale and sequencing of construction packages. The movement of materials, equipment, and personnel can affect project costs and scheduling, although the exact logistics strategy will depend on the design and procurement approach adopted for each site.

The feasibility appointment is intended to establish whether the indicative housing totals can be achieved within workable financial and technical parameters. Development costs must be assessed against the available funding arrangements, anticipated tenure mix, and infrastructure investment required to prepare the land for construction.

Orkney Islands Council's Local Housing Strategy sets a target of 1,030 new homes over ten years, with an intended balance of 60% affordable and 40% private housing. The wider programme involves the council, housing associations, development trusts, and private developers.

The partnership with Places for People represents one part of that delivery effort. It is intended to increase the availability of homes for families, essential workers, and other residents who face constraints in accessing suitable accommodation across the islands.

Places for People is contributing £3,000 towards relocating Willow Tree Nursery from the former Papdale Halls premises to a purpose-built facility at UHI Orkney. The funding will support furniture and setup costs as the nursery prepares to leave the building before demolition.

The nursery's relocation is a separate but necessary element of the wider site preparations. The existing use must be accommodated before demolition proceeds, allowing the council to bring the former residential hostel buildings out of service.

MGA Architecture has previously worked with Places for People on residential developments elsewhere in Scotland, including Chapelton of Elsick, Tornagrain, and Longniddry. Its appointment in Orkney extends that relationship to projects where local conditions and housing requirements will be significant considerations during design.

The architectural work will be undertaken with Orkney Islands Council and other local housing stakeholders. Engagement will help inform the proposed developments as the design teams establish the achievable capacity and the infrastructure needed to support the intended homes.

At Papdale Halls, the immediate construction milestone is the commencement of demolition in January 2027, with completion expected by spring 2028. The progression of housing at both sites will depend on feasibility findings, separate planning approvals, and satisfactory commercial arrangements.

The appointment provides a route towards more detailed housing proposals, but the anticipated 260 homes remain indicative. MGA's design and feasibility work will establish the practical and financial requirements for bringing the Papdale Halls and Weyland developments forward.