Preparation work is underway, as the former headquarters building of Aberdeen City Council is to be demolished.

The site around St Nicholas House is currently being cleared for a new development which will lead the way for the regeneration of the east end of the city centre and assist in bringing significant economic benefits to the area.

The UK demolition and dismantling firm, Safedem, has been appointed to carry out the work which will see a tower block, three-storey extension, basement, sub-basement accommodation and podium building destroyed.

Scaffolding is being erected around the 14-storey tower block which housed the local authority from 1968 to 2011, ahead of the external demolition work being carried out.

The work will be carried out in three phases. Phase one will involve the demolition of part of the extension to the original building, which covers Underpass Gallery (the walkway leading from Broad Street to Flourmill Lane). Once the area is cleared, it will provide an entrance for plant vehicles onto the site.

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The second phase will see the demolition of the Podium and the low-roofed section of the building running down Upperkirkgate, including the Registrars Office and the public toilets, while phase three has been described as the "critical phase" of the project.

All 14 floors of the tower block will be surrounded by scaffolding and two hoists will be fitted to lift machines up the building. These remote-control Brokk demolition machines will be used to deconstruct St Nicholas House floor by floor, from the top down. It will take approximately two weeks to take down each floor.

It is anticipated that the demolition will be complete by March next year. Waste from the site will be recycled.

Deputy Council Leader Marie Boulton said: "I am delighted to see the project move forward. This is a really exciting time for the city centre and the demolition of St Nicholas House is the first step in an important regeneration project.

"The site is large and is the only brownfield development site left in the city centre. It has huge potential and could fulfil a range of uses. As a Council we will soon be considering the best option for the future of the site and I look forward not only to seeing St Nicholas House being removed, but also an exciting new development taking shape there."

(JP/CD)