The new owners of a prime Aberdeen office complex have tabled plans that could put an end to a long-running battle over parking spaces between workers and residents in the west end.
For more than a year now, locals have complained that staff working at the Hill of Rubislaw are clogging up surrounding streets due to a shortage of available spots.
Now an application has been tabled with the city council for a 191-space car park that could solve the dispute.
The plans have been submitted by Kennedy Wilson Europe (KWE), the international arm of a Beverly Hills-based property investment firm.
The company acquired the site in a multimillion-pound package deal with Fordgate last year, and leases offices to oil firms including Marathon, Conoco Phillips and Chevron.
In supporting documents, KWE’s transport consultant Fairhurst said it had conducted a review of its new assets and had “identified a shortfall” in parking berths at the business park.
There are currently 285 parking spaces at Marathon House, which accommodates Marathon and Conoco Phillips employees. There are 839 existing spots at Seafield House, shared by Amec and Chevron staff and a further 361 at Rubislaw House for Conoco Phillips.
The new proposal is to build an extra floor on the Seafield House car park to provide an extra 191 spaces, which would plug the current gap.
An online survey carried out late last year by Fairhurst showed that 79% of workers who responded were “solo car drivers”, with 16% of motorists – projected at 307 vehicles – parking on surrounding streets.
It is this issue which has infuriated residents for many months, prompting complaints which local ward councillors have taken up with the companies and council officials.
Martin Greig, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Hazlehead, Ashley and Queen’s Cross ward, said: “Residents will be pleased to see efforts are being made to provide on site car parking spaces.
“Many complaints have arisen because of the failure of green travel plans that have accompanied planning permission. You can’t force people to take the bus, or walk, and local people have suffered as a result.”
The local authority has also come up with £135,000 plans for a controlled and priority parking zone at Hill of Rubislaw.
Final proposals are due to be discussed at a meeting of the communities, housing and infrastructure committee on Wednesday.
The planning application from KWE will be considered at a later date.