Mixed-use plans lodged for prime Aberdeen city centre site

Atholl Square Developments wants to demolish the building on Guild Street and build a site containing 413 units of student accommodation and a hotel, alongside a retail unit on the lower ground floor.

There would also be a public square with access to Guild Street with Bridge Street.

Developers have carried out public consultations since a proposal of application notice was launched in January. Revised plans for the project went on display in March.

A spokeswoman for the Atholl Square Developments said: “We are very pleased with the final designs and excited about the project and the opportunities it will provide for the city, we feel confident that this scheme will inject new vitality and activity into this area of the city, enabling much improved connectivity.”

Under the plans, cars would no longer be able to travel on Guild Street and the taxi rank and drop-off stop at the railway station would have to be relocated.

The public space would be in the middle of three tall buildings which would dwarf the current Atholl House site, with one stretching up to 17 storeys high.

The historic ticket office, built in 1909 and most recently Tiffany’s hair salon, would be maintained and incorporated into the new development.

Five disabled parking spaces would be provided via Wapping Street.

The site is located in the Union Street Conservation Area which was designated as outstanding in 1978, however, the developers believe the plans are still justified.

The spokeswoman added: “The Union Street Conservation Area comprises, in effect most of the city centre of Aberdeen.

“The conservation area does not have a single identifiable character, but is made up of several areas, each with distinctive and differing characters, which nevertheless are strongly linked, not only by the unifying effect of the granite masonry, but also by the dominating effect that Union Street has over the city.”