Resort plans for island RAF base

Version 0 of 1.

Ambitious plans to turn a former RAF radar station in Shetland into a holiday resort and whisky distillery are to be outlined at a conference.

More than 100 jobs were lost when the Ministry of Defence closed the Saxa Vord early warning station on the island of Unst in March.

The remote community hope the plans will secure its economic future and stop its young people from leaving.

Its population has dropped from more than 1,000 to 500 in the past decade.

Whisky distillery

The plans aim to turn the redundant base into a world class tourist destination and conference centre.

The idea is to use some of the surplus houses for holiday lets and develop the main base as a hotel with shops and restaurants.

A small film company in London is also interested in setting up a studio and sound stage.

Plans have already been approved to open Shetland's first whisky distillery.

The company behind the venture hopes to bottle its first premium malt next spring.