Major Aberdeen office scheme gets go-ahead
Plans for a large, controversial office scheme at the site of an historic church in Aberdeen have been approved.
Stewart Milne Developments have been granted conditional planning consent for their £40m Triple Kirks development (pictured). Triple Kirks is a well-known Aberdeen landmark and was once the site of three churches that were constructed in the 1800’s.
The remaining, Listed church spire is to be integrated within the new development of four connected office blocks, the tallest of which being nine stories high. The scheme will create approximately 72,600 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation within a BREAAM ‘Excellent’ building. Stewart Milne acquired the site in 2008 and applied for planning permission in March.
Aberdeen City Council acknowledge the size of the development but believe that there is sufficient demand for office space in Aberdeen. Councillor Kate Dean, commenting on the planning consent said: “We need high-quality office development in the city centre to help sustain all of the local businesses. I fully acknowledge that it is a sizeable scheme – but the applicants have done everything they can to reduce the massing.”
The Triple Kirks site has been the subject of various proposals over three decades but none have come to fruition. The land itself is problematic due to the 1-in-3 slope across the 0.43-acre site.
Commenting on the planning consent Malcolm Deans, MD of Stewart Milne Developments, said: “With planning consent granted, we will be actively marketing the development and are confident that, with the current lack of office space of this quality and stature, we will secure a high profile pre-let.”
Conditions attached to the planning consent relate to satisfactory conclusions of legal agreements over road improvements and affordable housing.
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