Retaining a threatened mill as part of a massive redevelopment of Aberdeen’s Broadford Works would cost more than £11million, according to a new report.
Developers Ferness Investment Holdings said that the cost of keeping the dilapidated Grey Mill building standing would make their whole £100million urban village vision “economically unviable”.
Broadford Works was built in 1808, and was once home to the largest collection of historically A-listed buildings in Scotland.
The former textile factory finally shut its doors in 2004 and has been lying vacant since.
The firm is seeking to bring the old workshops back to life by creating 460 homes, with accommodation for 430 students, shops and office spaces.
Its plan would, however, require the controversial partial demolition of the historic Grey Mill at the site – one of the last buildings of its kind in the world.
Aberdeen Civic Society has criticised the proposal.
And now the firm have submitted a case for listed building consent to demolish it.
Listed building consent is required to alter or demolish listed buildings and must be passed by government watchdog Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
In the report, complied by the Hurd Rolland Partnership after a visit in 2016, the firm says that fully retaining the buildings would cost upwards of £11.5million – while demolition would cost around £1.1million.
The report reads: “Ken Williamson of Hurd Rolland undertook a visual inspection of the site on July 21, 2016.
“The creation of an urban village remains the key underlying principle for the redevelopment of the site.
“In all of the above respects it can be seen that none of the options considered are economically viable in terms of the overall value generated by the current redevelopment proposals for the site.”
The plans have been backed by city centre business body Aberdeen Inspired and he Greater George Street Traders Association.
A spokesman for Historic Environment Scotland said: “We recently received a listed building consent application regarding the Grey Mill and currently have it under review. We will be responding to Aberdeen City Council ahead of the deadline for comments.”
