A senior city councillor has called for an overhaul of the national planning system.
Conservative councillor Ross Thomson has called the process “undemocratic” and has claimed it favours developers over the interests of local communities.
Mr Thomson has also said the Scottish Government’s current review of the planning system is not far-reaching enough.
His comments came after a campaign group, known as Planning Democracy, announced it would be holding a public workshop in the city next month.
He said: “I was at a meeting of the Ashley/Broomhill Community Council and the members there said they felt very disadvantaged in the process.
“They feel other factors are given more weight than community feeling, such as economics.
“I think with recent issues such as Marischal Square this feeling has grown among people in Aberdeen.”
The Scottish Government is currently carrying out a review of the planning process.
The consultation stage is now complete and the results are expected to be returned in May.
However, Mr Thomson has criticised the review and called it “lip service”.
He added: “The review doesn’t take into account the appeal process, which is one of the major issues.
“It’s not fair that one civil servant in the central belt gets to overrule local councillors who understand and know the area.
“It’s not about being against developments, it’s about making the process more democratic.”
The Scottish Government has promised the review will lead to a more “accessible and efficient” system for the public.
A spokeswoman said: “There have already been significant improvements to the planning system as a result of previous modernisation, and the review will deliver a quicker, more accessible and efficient planning process that works for everyone, especially local communities, and was welcomed by Cosla.
“The three panel members are widely respected for their expertise and bring a good range of experience to the review. Everyone with an interest in planning has had an opportunity to contribute their ideas through the call for written evidence and the panel will consider the views of a wide range of stakeholders. An online discussion forum has now been open for three weeks and will be extended until the end of February.”