Aberdeen City Council planning chiefs want controversial proposals to transform the heart of Aberdeen examined at a full public hearing.
Members of the local authority are being urged by their own officials to allow the £107million Marischal Square scheme to be fully scrutinised after a string of objections were lodged.
The finalised proposals from developer Muse will be considered for the first time by the council’s planning committee a week today.
And if members back the call for a public hearing, opponents and supporters of the scheme would be allowed to give evidence.
Last night, the local authority’s head of planning Dr Margaret Bochel, said a hearing would be “the most appropriate manner” of addressing issues raised by those for and against proposals to build a hotel and offices and create a civic open space on the site of the council’s former St Nicholas House HQ.
All applications in which the council has a financial interest and which attract more than 20 objections trigger a report to the committee, which must then decide on whether a public hearing should be held.
A range of issues have been raised in 43 letters objecting to the Marischal Square plan.
Dr Bochel said the representations received raised “a wide range of issues”.
They included:
The massing, scale and architectural composition of the proposed buildings.
The implications of Broad Street’s closure for congestion on the surrounding road network, air quality and noise pollution.
The relationship between the proposals and the surrounding listed buildings, notably Provost Skene’s House and Marischal College.
The potentially adverse impact on the viability of existing retail uses.
Dr Bochel said: “It is considered that the most appropriate manner of addressing these concerns is to convene a hearing at which all parties will have an opportunity to state their views.”
Detailed plans for the transformation of the St Nicholas House site were tabled with the local authority earlier this year.
The move followed a public consultation in which 4,000 people took part, prompting changes to the original design to provide more public space and greater prominence for the 16th century Provost Skene’s House.
Muse predicts the civic square could give “a sense of purpose” to the area.
However, conservationists have said they have “grave concerns” about the project, branding the design of the office, hotel and retail scheme “overpowering”.
Last night, former council leader Barney Crockett claimed it was testament to the plans that such a small number of letters had been received objecting to them. But he added that if there were concerns, the council must listen.
“This will be a chance for people to ask questions and for us to answer them and to let everybody see that this is being done in a full and open way,” he said.
City council finance convener Willie Young stressed that a public hearing would not determine if the work would go ahead or not, as the council had already entered into a deal with Muse.
He said it would be a chance for everyone to have to their say on what the plans would contribute to the future of Aberdeen.
“We have already determined that £107million worth of developments will be made,” he said.
“A public hearing will allow those who are both for and against the proposals to put forward their arguments to the case.”