A disused city centre office block in Aberdeen will be transformed into a 105-bedroom hotel after the scheme gained approval from the council’s planning committee yesterday.
Councillors unanimously approved the plans by Mandale Construction North for the six-storey Custom House, on the corner of Guild Street and Stirling Street.
It was brought to the committee after an objection by Castlehill and Pittodrie Community Council, who had previously raised concerns about the high concentration of hotels in the area and a lack of affordable housing, although they welcomed the confirmation that the plans will retain the original facade.
Under the proposals, the ground floor will feature a reception area, a bar and a dining room, and three bedrooms and back-of-house space.
The newsagents shop on the bottom floor will be retained.
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Upper floors will contain the remainder of the bedrooms.
Planners urged members to approve the application, arguing they would welcome the reuse of a long vacant building.
In their report, they said the proposals would also align with the city centre masterplan, which indicates that Aberdeen’s appeal as a leisure visitor destination requires a wider choice of accommodation in the city centre.
Committee convener Marie Boulton moved the plans, which were unanimously accepted by the committee.
Luxury dog hotel rejected by city councillors
Plans for a luxurious “dog hotel” in Aberdeen have been given the paws down from councillors.
The local authority’s planning committee met yesterday to debate the scheme put forward by Aberdeen Pet Resort owners Michael and Sarah Hamilton, who have run a cattery since 2010 and also wanted to look after dogs in a converted stable block at their base in Culter House Road, Milltimber.
They promised the kennels would offer “very important dog” service, where pets were put in rooms with scenic views, accompanied by chandeliers in the halls, and where their owners could view their dogs via webcam round the clock.
But a total of 65 letters of objection have been lodged against the scheme, arguing the noise from the dogs would adversely affect residents in the area.
Officers had recommended councillors back the plans due to the length of time that the animals are likely to be outwith their enclosure during day time hours.
Hilton, Woodside and Stockethill councillor Neil Copland, himself a dog owner, moved to approve the plans arguing there were a lack of similar facilities locally.
He added: “My dog is often with others and they don’t bark all the time. They quickly adjust to their surroundings.”
He was seconded by Torry and Ferryhill member Yvonne Allan, another dog owner, who argued the kennels were “needed in the city”.
But committee convener Marie Boulton moved refusal, saying that dogs often suffered “stress and anxiety when separated from their families” and would make too much noise for local residents.
Dyce, Bucksburn and Danestone councillor Avril Mackenzie, declaring herself a dog owner, said she felt it was “cruelty to animals” to keep them indoors as long.
The committee voted by five votes to four to refuse the application.
