The owner of an Aberdeen pub hailed as the “Rovers Return of its neighbourhood” is pressing ahead with plans to replace its lounge with a block of student flats.
Property developer David Reid bought the Brig o’ Dee Bar at the south end of Holburn Street five years ago.
He says he “tried everything” to make a success of its adjoining function room since then but all efforts to lure punters in failed.
Last year, Mr Reid reluctantly resolved to knock down the venue and build a complex of 43 student flats in its place.
The application, however, was rejected by the local authority as the suggested development would have extended too far to the rear of the bar.
But Mr Reid, who was once a partner in the Knight Frank estate agency and runs the Doric Pub Company, has now renewed his efforts to transform the property.
He said: “We tried everything to make the lounge work, with bands and functions galore but had to admit defeat.
“I am really fond of the local people, and the pub is very much the Queen Vic or the Rovers Return of the area.
“But it is also at the gateway into Aberdeen from the A90 road, so we want the student accommodation block to be something quite stunning.
“It will bring the whole site up to date, it is a statement piece of architecture for one of the first buildings people see when they’re heading to Union Street.”
Garthdee Community Council has backed the plans to bring students closer to the Robert Gordon University campus.
Group chairman, Paul O’Connor, said: “If this can free up the local housing market, then I am all for it.”
Several dossiers outlining the design proposals have been lodged with the authority’s planning department.
The council could make a decision on whether to endorse the scheme as soon as October.
