Demolition go-ahead for city listed building

Oldest mill of its kind coming down

Ahistoric piece of Aberdeen’s industrial heritage will be substantially demolished after the move was approved at a council meeting yesterday.

The planning committee approved recommendations for the demolition of the Grey Mill building at Broadford Works on Hutcheon Street, including the Old Mill, and the South Mill with the exception of the south gable wall.

The A-listed, four storey, structure, built in 1808, holds the accolade of being the fourth oldest iron framed building in the world and the oldest in Scotland.

The works are known to generations of Aberdonians for their use in the textile manufacturing industry until it closed in 2004.

Now a massive £100 million regeneration project for the site by developers Inhabit is on the table.

The firm is seeking to bring the old workshops back to life by creating 460 homes, with accommodation for 430 students, shops and office space.

Councillors were told yesterday that the Grey Mill could be saved – but that it would be a huge cost and that developers were unlikely to want to continue with the scheme if they had to redevelop it.

A report by the Hurd Rolland Partnership after a visit in 2016, says that fully retaining the buildings would cost upwards of £11.5m, while demolition would cost around £1.1m.

The plans have been backed by city centre business body Aberdeen Inspired and the Greater George Street Traders Association, though the Aberdeen Civic Society and Historic Environment Scotland both raised concerns.

But yesterday the plans for demolition were backed unanimously by councillors.

Committee convener Marie Boulton said officers had worked hard to find ways to retain the mill.

She added: “It is sad that it has to be demolished but the developers have been clear that the whole project would not have been viable without it.

“There were fires set there and people breaking into the site.

“So I think, without this plan, we could have seen the loss of all the buildings.”

ALL CHANGE: Plans for the redevelopment of Broadford Works include creating 460 homes as well as shops and offices

An artist’s rendering of the future development