The new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) could generate more than 3,000 jobs and bring millions of pounds into the city, according to developers.
Figures released by Henry Boot Developments on behalf of Aberdeen City Council also reveal that visitors to the AECC are expected to rise to 500,000 per year if plans for the facility are given the go ahead later this month.
The proposed site would include a conference centre which could hold 12,500 spectators, two hotels and a waste facility.
They estimate that by 2022, 603,000 people would visit the AECC compared to the 184,000 who visited the Bridge of Don facility last year.
The report also claims the project would generate £109million for the city each year after its completion.
Around 600 construction jobs will be created to support each of the three years of the initial construction phase.
The fourth phase of construction – occurring over a longer 10-year time frame – should create 90 annual construction jobs.
“Direct onsite employment will be generated through the new AECC, hotels, the energy centre, offices and leisure space,” the company said.
“A total of 550 operational jobs could be created as a result of the initial development with a further 3,000 net jobs being accommodated over the duration of the development.”
City council finance chief Willie Young thinks the move could save the local authority millions.
He said: “We need to look at the rest of the proposal, not just the conference centre.
“The waste facility is a very important part of this.
“It will save the local authority millions of pounds from not having to pay the landfill tax.
“The conference centre will also be good news and will give the people of Aberdeen the entertainment they deserve.
“There will be jobs created by the construction and once up and running more jobs and wealth will be created for the people of Aberdeen.”