A developer planning as many as 350 homes on the banks of the River Dee has been told more consultation is needed before they can progress.
Late last year councillors turned down Aberdeen Harbour Board’s proposals for 258 flats for being “too dull”, ruling the South Esplanade West site deserved something “iconic”.
Now, First Endeavour has designs for hundreds of homes at the riverside spot between the Queen Elizabeth and Victoria bridges.
The firm, through EMA Architecture And Design, had indicated it wished to proceed with a public consultation this month or next to gauge public opinion.
It would be conducted online, in respect of the pandemic.
But the council’s development manager Daniel Lewis said what they had proposed to do was “insufficient”.
He told First Endeavour’s architects the local authority needed details of when and how the consultation could be accessed and how questions from participants would be answered.
Nearby businesses, neighbouring community councils – as Torry’s has disbanded – and local councillors should also be made aware of the event, officials said.
So too should both Aberdeen universities’ rowing clubs, whose headquarters are at the far western end of the site.
In a letter to EMA, Mr Lewis said: “Every effort should be made to ensure the public, who live and work in Torry and the surrounding areas, are made aware of the consultation event.
“It may be worth contacting other Torry-based community groups, to raise the profile of the consultation.”
The majority of the proposed site, consisting of a crane depot, petrol filling station, warehouse, mission hall and a hot food takeaway, has been out of use for years.
