Councillors are to visit a five star Aberdeen hotel as they consider an application to extend it.

The application seeks permission to make alterations to and extend the Marcliffe Hotel to create 186 new bedrooms (bringing the total number of rooms to 228), a reception, function area, lounge and leisure and spa accommodation.

A new multi-level, partly underground 291 space car park also features in the plans.

Planners have recommended that Aberdeen City councillors grant conditional approval for the plans for the Pitfodels site, but withhold consent until a bat emergence survey has been carried out and the council is satisfied that no bats would be affected by demolition work, or until the Scottish Government has granted a bat licence for the demolition work.

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The hotel currently consists of an original granite house, called Balnagarth, and modern extensions to the rear.

The application seeks detailed planning permission to extend the hotel's floor space by more than four times - from 5,653 square metres to 23,757 square metres.

The existing modern rear bedroom wing would be demolished to accommodate the new extension which would vary in height from two to five storeys and include a curved five-storey granite wing, tapering to a point level with the frontage of Balnagarth.

The original house would be maintained as a meeting, function and conference area.

The planning subcommittee will visit the site next week.

(GK/JM)