Go-ahead for student flats in office block

Plans for a ninestorey block of student flats on Aberdeen’s Union Street have been approved. The 21-apartment scheme will take shape to the rear of the Amicable House office block facing on to Union Row.

Landhold Properties have described their 90ft plans for space at 250/252 Union Street as “elegant”.

And consultants Aurora says the building would create “much-needed city centre living accommodation”, helping boost business on the struggling street.

The site is used as a 28-space car park for upper floor offices at Amicable House.

There would be a pair of two-bedroom flats and one single-bed flat across all storeys, all with their own balconies.

The nearby Capitol (10 storeys) and Silver Fin (11 storeys) buildings were highlighted as planners suggested the height of the flats wouldn’t be an issue.

They hailed a roof garden an especially “attractive” feature – for anyone with a head for heights.

With a minimal number of parking spaces, residents would be presented with their own “travel packs” pointing out nearby cycle routes and public transport options.

Grampian Credit Union is based at 250 Union Street, and staff were left “shocked” upon learning of the proposal.

Chief executive Chinyere Adeniyi-Alade urged the council to reject the “ridiculous plan”.

She said: “The space is already small and we can’t even imagine why someone will want to put in a ninestorey residential building there.

“This is an example of putting profit first.”

The proposal was lodged last year, and since that time a few small tweaks have been made as developers fought to secure approval.

And now the local authority has given the goahead to the plan, deeming it a “reasonable” idea.

Planning officials accept the height and size would “represent a significant new addition to the townscape of the city centre” – with “some adverse impact” on Union Row.

But they add: “Care has been taken to ensure that the building would not harm any medium or longdistance views of the skyline.

“The building would sit relatively comfortably alongside existing buildings of a similar height.”

NEW FUTURE: The Amicable House office block on Aberdeen’s Union Street.