THE FORMER Police Scotland HQ at Queen Street in Aberdeen could be redeveloped as offices or homes under £60million plans being considered by city officials.
Councillors have been asked to back plans to transform large parts of Queen Street into an urban park.
They have also been asked to support proposals to explore options for either the demolition or redevelopment of what was the Granite City’s main police station.
Queen Street police office in the city centre was built in the early 1970s for the formation of Grampian Police in 1975. It was sold to Aberdeen City Council last year.
In a paper going to full council next week, officials have asked councillors to back plans to transform the site and make it a key part of the city’s regeneration.
If approved, officers will draw up detailed plans for an urban park, while assessing both demolition or refurbishment options for the former police building.
Both residential and commercial uses will be considered, and a soft marketing exercise to see which businesses might be interested will take place.
As the above work progresses, the internal strip out of the former Police HQ will get underway.
This includes soft strip, asbestos removal and service isolation from the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Services Civil and Commercial Court on Queen Street.
Councillors will discuss the paper next Wednesday.
Offices needed
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, has urged the creation of more Grade A office space to tackle a shortage in the city centre.
He said: “Just a few short years ago, it was reckoned there was an oversupply of Grade A office space in Aberdeen city Centre. Fast forward to now and many blue chip companies have backed the city centre by relocating there to the extent that the ‘full’ signs are close to going up.
“So this news that additional office accommodation could be a part of the Queen Street redevelopment is very welcome as we head into an exciting phase for the region’s economy.
“Successful city regeneration projects require one main ingredient- people. To live there, to spend leisure time and to work there. Meanwhile, the city’s biggest employer of all continues to enable swathes of their staff to work remotely. Come on Aberdeen City Council, you have an easy lever to build footfall in the east end of the city centre. Pull it.”
