Controversial housing plans for former Treetops hotel and school sites in Aberdeen’s west end poised for approval

A pair of controversial housing schemes in Aberdeen’s west end could be approved within days.

Developers have launched a combined project across the flattened sites of the former Hilton Treetops hotel and Braeside Primary School.

They aim to build almost 80 properties on land once occupied by the hotel, along with 30 affordable homes at the school site less than a mile away.

Between them, the proposals have attracted more than 200 objections.

Fuming against the affordable housing proposal, one west end resident even suggested that the leafy part of the city was “no place for families in poverty”.

Many others complained that the vision for the former hotel would result in a population boom which local roads and schools won’t cope with.

What exactly are the plans, and why are they so controversial?

The Treetops hotel had been a Springfield Road institution for 55 years before closing abruptly in February 2020 and being knocked down.

Malcolm Allan Housebuilders then began forming plans for the lucrative land in Craigiebuckler.

They initially announced intentions to build 89 new properties, including three and four-bedroom homes as well as six-storey blocks of flats.

Last November, that was later revised to the 77 homes now included in the final draft, comprised of 44 houses and 33 flats.

Linked to that, the builders made some changes to their masterplan which sparked fury among residents.

What are the Braside Primary School proposals?

Instead of building the necessary affordable homes on the Springfield Road plot, they lodged plans to construct them on the former site of the demolished Braeside Primary School.

The switch came as council bosses said affordable houses are needed more than the flats first envisaged.

And there wasn’t enough space on the former hotel site to build them there “in a satisfactory layout”.

The pocket now planned for Braeside Place would be a mix of three and four-bedroom properties and provide accommodation for a number of disabled residents.

In a letter of objection, Gilah Cheesewright said she opposed the development as the area was “not for putting in families in poverty”.

And Laura Beaton claimed police are “never far away” from the affordable housing at nearby Countesswells.

What could happen next?

The plans, which have been in the works for many months, will go before Aberdeen City Council next week.

And officials are urging elected members to approve both, despite the outpouring of anger in the community.

Contrary to the local objections, they say the Treetops hotel housing plan will not push local schools to breaking point.

But contributions of £42,467 would be needed to increase capacity at Great Western Medical Practice on Seafield Road.

And the developers would need to stump up £134,578 to cover improvements at Airyhall Community Centre – “which has proposals in place to create additional capacity to accommodate additional users”.

What about the concerns around affordable housing in Aberdeen’s west end?

Officials address the worries on the “introduction of social housing into the area” raised in response to the Braeside scheme.

They say: “Whilst the proposal is for 100% affordable housing, the number of houses proposed is not especially large.

“Due its modest size, it is considered that it would integrate effectively into the existing residential community.”

The papers further explain: “Both national and local planning policy promote the integration of different tenures of housing to create mixed communities.

“The location which is close to local services and public transport routes, is considered suitable for affordable housing.

“There is no reason that social and mainstream housing cannot sit alongside one another.”

What happens if one is refused?

Papers going before councillors explain that rejecting the Braeside application would mean both fall.

Refusing it would result in rules about affordable housing “no longer being met” at the Treetops site.

Officers explain that would mean the Treetops scheme will have to be brought back to the drawing board.

They say Malcolm Allan would have to “consider an alternative means” of including affordable housing as part of the development.

Local councillor Martin Greig highlighted the “considerable local interest” in the plans.

He added: “People have been waiting for a long time for these decisions.”

You can read more on the objections to the hotel site here and the Braeside Primary School plan here.