An Archial-Designed £1.2m affordable housing development in St Mary’s, Orkney, has won Planning Approval.

Archial, one of the country’s largest architectural practices and a member of the global Ingenium Group of companies, has been granted planning approval from Orkney Islands Council for the erection of 12 affordable houses on behalf of Orkney Builders in the village of St Mary’s Holm, Orkney.

The 12 two and three bedroomed houses will be built at the north of the west edge of St Mary’s village in a design sympathetic to the historical character and appearance of the traditional fishing village.

Archial’s Director in Inverness, Mark Fresson, said: “The overall development fits well within the village context. Its layout and appearance is in keeping with the character of St Mary’s as a traditional fishing village which has many houses of similar proportions. The houses are arranged around a central public space providing an element of amenity and essential shelter given that the Orkney Islands are on similar latitude to the southern tip of Greenland.


“The houses will be single storey and of a simple design, with a scale and massing giving a traditional feel to the housing. The roofs will be clad in a dark grey slate effect roof with a mix of white rendered and timber cladding to the walls.”

The development comprises eight semi-detached units, one detached dwelling and a terrace of three dwellings; made up of eight two bedroomed dwellings and four three bedroomed dwellings. All homes will have their own outside space with parking provision spread across the site but all within close proximity to the dwellings.

There will be a new access road serving the whole site and a new junction will be created adjacent to Adelaide directly onto the A961. A landscaped central amenity area/village green/play area will provide a central core to the development.

(GK)