Plans to demolish a significant part of a historic piece of Aberdeen’s history to make way for a £100million “urban village” have been recommended for approval.
The Broadford Works site, which was once home to the largest collection of category A-listed buildings at risk in Scotland, has been taken over by developers Inhabit.
The new owners hope to transform the site, which has lain vacant since 2004, into a major development containing 460 homes, and accommodation for 430 students, as well as shops and offices.
However, they have claimed that for their dream to be realised, a significant percentage of the site’s iconic Grey Mill will need to be flattened as it would be too costly and unsafe to retain it as it currently stands.
In a report published yesterday, city council planners have now recommended next week’s planning committee conditionally approve the plans for the partial demolition.
Dominic Fairlie, the chairman of the Aberdeen Civic Society said: “As owners and developers, they need to honour the moral obligation they have as the custodians of these very important buildings to preserve them as much as possible.
“At the Aberdeen Civic Society, we’re not experts on the financial viability of a development, but it would appear to us that someone somewhere is making too much money out of this, meaning there’s not enough money for the proper repair of the Grey Mill.
“As a result, if this application is successful Aberdeen will lose out in the long term as yet more of our heritage is demolished.”
The five-storey high Grey Mill building was first built in 1808, and is one of the oldest iron-framed mills in Scotland – and the fourth oldest known to survive in the world.
It was originally used for textile manufacturing, from linen weaving to fire hose making.
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart said: “Folk living near Broadford have put up with enough vandalism, destruction and of course arson so it is time for a new development to take shape there.
“It is disappointing that for progress to happen, it could come at the cost of Aberdeen losing a valuable piece of engineering and architectural heritage.”
An Inhabit spokeswoman said: “Our ambitious plans for the site will support the city’s growth for the next 25 years by delivering a high-quality, mixed-use development that sits alongside the City Centre Masterplan.”
