Aberdeen Council has said the level of demand for office space in the city has soared over the past year.

It is understood the amount of class four office – which is at least 500sq m – developments completed, under construction or granted detailed planning consent in 2013, was "significantly higher" than in 2012.

In 2013, the local authority granted detailed planning consent for 81,146 square metres of class four office space; 103,409sq m was under construction and 11,474 sq m was completed. This compares to 2012, which saw detailed planning consent granted for 11,520sq m of office space; 67,990 sq m were under construction; and 3,225 sq m was completed.

A number of very large city centre schemes received planning permission last year, including Triple Kirks (6,750 sq m) and the former Capital Cinema on Union Street (9,180 sq m). There was also a significant proportion of the new office floorspace being built on large new business parks on the edge of the city.

However, Aberdeen's established business and industrial areas are also seeing considerable activity and several more projects are planned for the city centre.

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In addition, demand for hotel developments also remains high, with 294 new bedrooms in class seven developments (at least 10 new bedrooms) completed last year, compared to none in 2012. Some 168 bedrooms are under construction, and detailed planning consent has been granted for a further 384. Two more hotels are planned for the ABZ business park, and construction work has started on a 148-bedroom hotel at the Prime Four business park. Elsewhere, a four-star hotel is planned for the Marischal Square development, and an eight-storey, 92-bedroom extension is planned for the Station Hotel on Guild Street.

Council Leader Barney Crockett said: "There is no doubt that Aberdeen is booming. The city is seeing incredible levels of investment and development from the UK and beyond. We've recorded the UK's highest level of business increases, are second only to London for new business start-ups, and are experiencing some of the UK's fastest growth in private sector jobs.

"Rapid progress is being made on the business parks, which are quickly attracting new tenants – many of them very big players on the business stage. The city centre is also proving popular, with some very significant developments planned for the area. There is a soaring demand for office space and it is clear that the opportunities offered here are unrivalled elsewhere in Britain and many parts of Europe."

Planning Development Management Convener Councillor Ramsay Milne added: "The number of major development applications being handed by the planning and sustainable development team is incredible.

"Officers are working closely with developers to ensure that their plans comply with the local planning guidelines and fit with the Local Development and Structure Plans, and that their proposals are suitable for Aberdeen.

"This city is well and truly open for business, which is clearly demonstrated not only by the level of inquiries and planning applications being received by the planning authority, but also by the amount of construction work which is getting under way very quickly after planning consent has been granted.

"Businesses want to be operating here, which is great news for Aberdeen."

(JP/IT)