A housing developer has thrown its weight behind a local garden centre in a clash with Aberdeen’s most famous boxer over land rights – landing the first blow by promising up to £20 million of investment.
The Parkhill Garden Centre and champion fighter Lee McAllister are locked in a battle over who will take over the site of the fire-ravaged former Cordyce school.
Mr McAllister – known to many fans as the Aberdeen Assassin – wants to use the site for his £10 million vision for a fitness complex that would help the rehabilitation of people with disabilities, cancer, alcoholism or who are homeless.
Garden centre goes head-to-head with boxing champ over school buyout plans
However the garden centre is also eyeing up the site, warning that without a move to new premises the salt spray from the AWPR will damage its plants and stop it trading over the winter months.
The latest twist comes as it emerges the garden centre has a new ally in its corner – the affordable housing developer First Endeavour LLP.
Last night the firm, which has ambitious plans for sites across the city, said their “proven track record” would prove beneficial to their application.
As part of the proposed scheme, the garden centre would be joined by a medical centre, a care home, community allotments and around 60 homes, which are envisaged as three or four bedroom bungalows.
A spokesman said: “We are looking at maybe £20 million of investment here in facilities that are needed in the area.
“We have a proven track record of delivering projects in the north-east and won’t require any public money to be spend on our development.”
Parkhill’s surroundings were previously shielded from the wind and spray by a belt of trees, now felled as part of the bypass construction.
Director Barry McGillivray said all 43 staff at the business, founded in 1984 – would be kept on if the application was successful.
He added: “The spray from the AWPR will mean we can’t stay. The Cordyce site is one we would like to grow the business on.”
Mr McAllister has said previously that he is “not fussed” by the garden centre application and would look to work with them should his application be successful,
The school was set on fire by youths last November after being previously closed by council chiefs.
It is understood that a council committee will make the final decision on who will take over the site.
