Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has said the Scottish Government will not be getting involved in the debate surrounding Aberdeen’s Marischal Square development.
During a visit to the city yesterday, he it was a “decision for the Aberdeen people”.
Mr Neil, whose ministerial portfolio includes planning, met with council chiefs at the town house as part of the Scottish Cabinet tour of the north-east.
But afterwards he said the controversial Muse Development was not a subject of discussion between councillors and government ministers.
Mr Neil said: “This is very much an Aberdeen issue and it’s for the Aberdeen people to decide rather than for the Scottish Government to make the decision.
“We, at this stage, will not be getting involved in this controversy.”
It comes after a massive protest at the weekend drew around 1,000 people opposing the Muse plan.
Council finance convener Willie Young said: “Both the Scottish Government and ourselves are very well aware of the situation with the development .
“The government haven’t called it in and the reason they haven’t is because there is nothing to call in.
“We are moving forward with Marschial Square. That development will happen, however we will speak to the protestors when they contact us.”
Also discussed was the possible building of 120 new homes for public sector staff at the site of the former Craiginches prison site and the ongoing possibility of a “city deal” from the UK Government for Aberdeen.
Mr Neil said: “There’s no question Aberdeen needs the houses. As the former health secretary I’m particularly aware of the difficulty we had with recruiting and retaining health workers in the Aberdeen area because of the lack of availability of housing and there are problems like this throughout the public sector.
“The city deal was obviously mentioned but granting the city deal is a UK government initiative so I would hope that the chancellor would listen.”
Mr Young added: “The most important thing here is that we want to work in a partnership with the Scottish Government but we need to get across that Aberdeen is still the lowest funded council and that there is only so much we can do.
“We want to improve the fabric of the city but the only way we can do that is with a proper share of the pot.”