A dilapidated Aberdeen office block which has lain empty for years could be given a new lease of life with a 1930s-inspired twist.
Plans have been lodged with the city council to convert the property above the Nationwide Building Society at 133 Union Street into six flats.
Developer City Restoration Project has admitted there is a “significant amount of work required” to bring the C-listed building back up to an acceptable standard.
And, if it is given approval for the work, has pledged to make the building “once again” reflect its original history and architecture.
Photographs from inside the property show major wear and tear throughout its three floors.
And while surveyors have noted that it does appear to be structurally sound, a large number of improvements have been suggested.
The planning documents mention that all of the internal decorative joinery is “in disrepair” while many of the floors have been left “unattractive and unfinished”.
Large swathes of plasterboard and stair treads are chipped or worn, and a number of the internal doors have been earmarked for replacement to better fit the building’s heritage.
Other changes have been proposed to refurbish the historic cast iron radiators, adjust room layouts to let in more natural light and install new skylight windows.
In recent years the shop front underneath the property, which sits beside Back Wynd Stairs leading to The Green, has been used as a Sports Direct, Zavvi, Virgin Megastore and Pound Shop.
However it started life as a branch of Boots the Chemist, and a sign reading Boots Buildings used to adorn the entryway to the floors above it.
As part of its proposals for the site, City Restoration Project wants to install a similar sign there once more to reflect the history of the property.
The planning document notes: “Overall, there is a significant amount of work required to bring the aforementioned floors back to an acceptable state for habitation.
“Works include the complete redecoration and replacement of floor, wall and ceiling finishes, stairs, and decorative joinery elements.”
The plans are expected to be considered by council planning officers in due course.
