Plans to construct one of the biggest ever office blocks in Aberdeen have been conditionally approved by the city council’s planning committee.

The application is for detailed planning permission to build a 26,742 square metre office development, with two associated multi-storey car parks to accommodate 735 cars.

The building, which is to be known as Ardent House, will be one of the largest single office blocks ever built in North-east Scotland.

The site of the proposed development is in a mixed commercial and fish processing area south of the city centre and overlooking the River Dee. The site extends from Old Ford Road to Raik Road, straddling Russell Road and fronting over North Esplanade West.

Standing eight storeys above street level, with a basement level below ground, Ardent House will be the same height at Talisman House on Holburn Street, and consist of three wings in a T-shaped configuration.

The north wing has been reserved by the Wood Group for use as its new corporate headquarters. The three wings will be able to function independently of each other, to allow flexibility of tenure.

Committee convener Councillor Scott Cassie said: "This is one of the most exciting office developments to happen in the city for some considerable time and it is fitting that a major part of it will be for the corporate headquarters of the Wood Group - one of Aberdeen's very own companies and a major international success story.

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"This development reinforces the Wood Group's commitment to Aberdeen and it will also serve to regenerate an area smack bang in the middle of the declining fishing quarter, in fact taking the company right back to its roots.

"The Wood Group could have chosen to locate anywhere in the world so it gives out a really positive message to the international business community that Aberdeen is open for business. I am pleased that the planning committee gave a 100% endorsement to this project."

The planning committee unanimously approved head of planning and infrastructure Dr Margaret Bochel’s recommendation to conditionally approve the application, but withhold consent until a traffic safety audit of the Poynernook Road and Raik Road junction has been produced and submitted by the developer and approved by the council.

Their must be the submission and approval of a green travel plan, including targets and timescales for shift away from the use of single-occupier private cars and a commitment to review and amend the plan in light of any area-wide green travel plan.

The comitee require payment by the developer of a £24,000 planning gain contribution to be used towards recreational and environmental improvements in the area. They also need written confirmation has been received from SEPA that it is withdrawing its holding letter which expresses an objection to the application on the grounds of an inadequate flood risk assessment.

In conclusion, Dr Bochel states that if implemented, the proposal would build on the recent commercial redevelopment in the immediate area and potentially act as a catalyst for the regeneration of an area which was historically dominated by the declining fish processing industry.

Dr Bochel states: "The proposal has the potential to act as a flagship development of the north bank of the Dee as a future central business district for the city and as a stimulus for the regeneration of Torry on the opposite bank.

"The potential wider benefits of redeveloping the whole area are to be co-ordinated through the production of a development framework that is being actively pursued by the council.

"The scale of the building is appropriate and… would create an imposing, if somewhat monolithic, landmark when viewed from the Queen Elizabeth Bridge on a main gateway route into the city."

(GK)