The £1.9 million development was designed by local architectural firm Redman + Sutherland Architects and delivered to a very high standard by E&H Building Contractors Ltd.

Hjaltland chairman, Bobby Hunter, said: “We work closely with the Local Authority to focus our developments in the priority areas identified in the Local Housing Strategy but the waiting list, particularly in Lerwick, remains stubbornly high.

“Despite our continued development of new homes over recent years we received 184 applications for these 14 homes. The Association continue to work toward meeting the housing needs of those throughout Shetland and have plans to develop a further 123 homes over the next four years.”

Hjaltland chief executive, Bryan Leask, added: “We originally bought the land in 2007 but due to the global economic collapse that occurred in 2008, and the subsequent cuts in Government funding that followed, it took us a number of years to put together a funding package that allowed the project to proceed.

“The site itself offered unique challenges but I think the finished project rivals any small housing development. The 14 homes are built around the ‘Home Zone’ principal where the scheme is designed to provide a safe and pleasant place for families to live and where the pedestrian has priority over the car.”

The contract has been funded through Scottish Government grant support and £700,000 in private finance from the Bank of Scotland.

Douglas Spowart, SME banking, property team relationship director at Bank of Scotland, added: “There is a strong and ever increasing demand for the provision of social housing in Shetland. Hjaltland Housing Association, currently viewed as one of Scotland’s most proactive developers of social housing, currently has an active waiting list of over 600 seeking accommodation and these 14 properties at Wista, housing a total of 38 people, will help to bridge that gap.

“At Bank of Scotland we feel it is extremely important to support developments like this, alongside the Scottish Government, which will result in local families in need benefiting from the stability and comfort of quality housing.”

The Association is not resting on its laurels with a further 33 homes currently on site; 12 one bedroom flats at Fort Road and 21 one, two and three bedroom homes at the Observatory due for completion over the next 12 months.