SHETLAND Islands Council has approved recommendations for the creation of subsea tunnels between some islands.
The local authority appointed Stantec, Mott MacDonald, and COWI in 2025 to develop a fixed link model, which identified how subsea tunnels could be delivered to connect Shetland’s islands.
Recommendations for the build of a tunnel between the Shetland mainland and Yell, as well as between Yell and Unst, have now been approved. A long-term commitment has also been given to tunnels connecting the mainland with Bressay and Whalsay.
The total cost for the build of the four tunnels is estimated to be £1.5 billion, with an indicative timeline of opening the routes in 2034.
Councillors have approved £200,000 of funding from existing budgets to progress the project.. The draft implementation route map is the next step in the process and will set out a phased 30-year investment programme and high-level cost profile when it is presented to the council in September.
Shetland’s current inter-island ferry network faces accepted operational problems, including significantly increased operating costs (rising to £25 million for 2024/25), an ageing fleet with an average vessel age of 32.5 years, difficulties in crew attraction and retention, and deck capacity issues on several key routes, the council explained.
Shetland Islands Council leader, Emma Macdonald, said, “We have made our position clear today, and with the support of the Scottish and UK Governments we could be driving through tunnels in Shetland in as little as eight years from now. Islands with fixed links repopulate, enjoy economic growth and experience a reduction in their average age.
“The most critical consideration now is to continue to look at potential external funding, and our team will report back on that in September, alongside the draft implementation route map. We have no ‘do nothing’ options here. Ferries and tunnels are both needed to unlock the potential of Shetland, and both the Scottish and UK Governments have a vested interest in helping that happen.”
