Plans to build a new storage facility for Aberdeen Art Gallery have taken a step forward.
The city council has lodged a planning application for a site at Granitehill Road in the Northfield area.
The 25,700sq ft Museums Collections Centre forms part of a wider revamp plan for the gallery, which is due to close for about two years while building work takes place.
The project caused a political row after the costs of the storage centre, originally estimated at about £1.2million, rocketed to £3.85million in February last year and then to £5.8million by December.
The spiralling price tag prompted questions about the likelihood of the entire development – which has proved highly contentious – coming in under the anticipated budget of £30million.
In supporting documents lodged with the application, the council said the store would be used to house exhibits during construction work at the Schoolhill gallery.
After that, current storage facilities around the city would be combined at the new depot.
The council statement points out that the conditions in which current collections are stored are “no longer considered fit for purpose”.
It adds: “Significant investment would be required in existing storage to bring it up to current stringent archival standards.
“The new building intends not only to rationalise the storage of collections but also to protect and maintain the city’s heritage from a single purpose built location.”
The proposed site is within an area identified in the council’s local development plan for business and industrial purposes.
The statement also argues that the new centre should “contribute to community regeneration of Northfield socially, physically and environmentally” by providing publicly accessible arts and cultural facilities.
A maximum of 15 staff would be based at the premises during the “peak period” of the gallery redevelopment.
SNP councillor John Corall tabled a motion to a full council meeting in December last year urging the Labour-led administration to scrap the plans.
However, the motion was withdrawn at the 11th hour.
Mr Corall said the decision was taken because three councillors who would have supported his motion were not present.
Council leader Jenny Laing accused the Nationalist member of “blatant political opportunism”.