Anger as Treetops hotel housing plans AND affordable homes nearby in Aberdeen’s west end approved

Hundreds of people had objected to the plans.

By Ben Hendry

June 8 2023, 2:52 pm

Councillors visited the sites before reaching a decision. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Plans to build houses over the site of Aberdeen’s flattened Treetops hotel have been approved, along with dozens of affordable homes a mile away.

The Springfield Road venue closed three years ago, and was torn down in the following months.

Malcolm Allan Housebuilders lodged proposals for a mix of houses and flats there in 2021, but last year made a controversial change to the scheme.

The homes at the Treetops site have been given the go-ahead. Image: Halliday Fraser Munro

What was the contentious change?

They instead formed plans to build the legally obliged social housing element several streets away on the site of the flattened Braeside Primary School.

That would mean 77 houses being built on the hotel land, and 30 affordable properties elsewhere.

This blueprint shows how the scores of homes will be built at the Treetops hotel. Image: Halliday Fraser Munro

And this shows how the affordable homes complex will look. Image: Halliday Fraser Munro

The twin projects caused uproar in the west end – with one resident even claiming the affluent area is “no place for families living in poverty“.

Between them, the proposals attracted more than 200 objections.

Councillors had been due to decide the application in May, but it was waylaid twice – first by a consultation bungle and then as elected members decided to visit the site.

On Thursday morning they were guided around the “scrubland” which was once home to the school, before strolling among the rubble of the demolished hotel.

The planning committee pictured here at the former Braeside School in Braeside Place. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Why were the plans approved?

If the Braeside part of the overall plan was knocked back, then the Treetops application would have automatically been scrapped too.

And the planning committee was torn on the proposals.

Voting first on the affordable homes, some members called for the project to be paused.

Dell Henrickson and Marie Boulton, seen here at the Braeside Primary School site, would later raise concerns about the development proposed there. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Councillor Marie Boulton raised worries about the extra families putting added pressure on city schools which are already at breaking point.

And, backed by the SNP’s committee convener Dell Henrickson, she asked for the plans to be brought back to the drawing board to be downsized.

But others, including Mr Henrickson’s party colleagues, argued that the city was “screaming out for more social housing”.

John Cook, seen here on the left, relayed shocking figures about soaring homelessness in Aberdeen. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

SNP colleague Ciaran McRae highlighted that the development would include 10 affordable homes big enough to house whole families.

He added: “The city is screaming out for social houses, especially of the size proposed here for young families.”

Ciaran McRae seen here asking planning gurus about the Braeside scheme. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

The SNP’s Neil Copland agreed: “We need the houses now.

“There are fewer than 30 four-bedroom houses for social rent in this city, and we have sold off huge numbers of three-bedroom properties.

“Lots of families on the waiting list are desperate to get a decent house.”

The councillors were bussed to Braeside Place to inspect the site. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Ultimately, members voted 6-4 to approve the plans.

Why was the Treetops hotel housing approved?

The committee then debated the controversial plans to create 77 homes, including one six-storey block of flats, over the site of the flattened hotel.

The decision-makers made their way past a remnant of the hotel as they entered the site. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

They heard from Ray Grant, who lives next door at Macaulay Gardens, and said the towering complex would ruin his privacy.

Speaking in the chambers, Mr Grant said: “Our garden and upstairs bedrooms would be grossly overlooked.

“We are going to be plagued all the time.”

Several councillors were swayed, with four voting to return the plans to the developers so that the proposed block could be lowered.

Officers guided councillors around the grounds of the former Hilton Treetops. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

However, that wasn’t enough.

Mr Copland spoke for the majority when he said the concerns raised were “not enough to refuse the application”.

And the Treetops hotel housing plan was approved by 6-4 as well.

Elected members visited the Treetops site before the housing plans were approved. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Do you think they made the right decision? Let us know in our comments section below

Speaking afterwards, Lib Dem councillor Martin Greig told us: “Everybody is angry, but there’s nothing they can do about it.

“This decision is very disappointing.

“A great deal of individuals objected to the details of the proposal, the very tall block of flats is especially unwelcome as it is so excessive.”

Mr Greig is seen here on the site visit. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Council co-leader Ian Yuill, who represents the area, said he was “very disappointed” by the decision – which was led by several SNP councillors who rule the local authority in partnership with his Liberal Democrat group.

The meeting brought to a close months of unrest in the area.

You can read more about the objections to the Treetops hotel housing here.

The Springfield Road planning application can be viewed here, and the Braeside Place one here.

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