Marks and Spencer (M&S) has indicated that Aberdeen City Council could assume ownership of its former flagship store site on St Nicholas Street, which is slated for demolition. The retail giant’s management is scheduled to meet with council leaders in early July to deliberate on both the proposed demolition and a “longer-term future vision” for the prominent city centre plot.
The move follows the permanent closure of the St Nicholas Street branch on 4 May 2025, which served as M&S’s main north-east outlet for generations.
A key factor in the decision to demolish the 1960s building is the confirmed presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within its structure. RAAC, a lightweight concrete material used extensively in UK construction from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, is known for its limited lifespan, typically around 30 years, and susceptibility to structural failures, including potential collapse, often without visible warning.
According to a letter seen by The Press and Journal, M&S representatives are awaiting a meeting with Aberdeen planning officials before formally submitting an application for demolition. If planning permission is granted, M&S will have approximately 12 weeks to appoint a contractor and prepare the site, with the demolition itself expected to “take just over 12 months to complete.” Following the clearance, M&S hopes to “continue working closely with Aberdeen City Council to explore potential ownership options for the site.”
Aberdeen City Council’s co-leaders, Christian Allard (SNP) and Ian Yuill (Liberal Democrat), are expected to attend the pivotal July meeting. Councillor Yuill, while not commenting on the ownership directly, expressed optimism, stating, “Clearly the building is in a very poor state of repair, so on that basis it does make sense to demolish it. I very much hope a new use can be found that makes our city centre an even better place to live, work and visit.”
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr has long advocated for action regarding the derelict site, citing concerns over antisocial behaviour since its closure. He commented:
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“I very much welcome the swift action being taken to address the future of the site, rather than leaving the building to deteriorate further. The prospect of having this area cleared and freed up for development by next summer is a positive outcome to a difficult and complex situation.”
However, not all experts agree on the necessity of demolition. Matthew Clubb, an Aberdeen-based director specialising in low-energy architecture and building retrofit, argues that the M&S building “does not need to be knocked down – with some “imagination” required to breathe new life into it.”
An M&S spokeswoman reiterated the company’s position, stating: “We are at an early stage in our proposed plans for the former St Nicholas Street store in Aberdeen. We will meet the Council early next month and continue working closely with them on both our proposed demolition proposals and future ownership options.”
