Historic Scotland has been asked to grant special status to an Aberdeen art school building in line to be replaced as part of a multimillion-pound redevelopment.
Robert Gordon University (RGU) plans to move students out of Gray’s School of Art on Garthdee Road and into a new home by 2015.
But a surprise application has been lodged with the national conservation body to give the current building special protection – which could prevent it from being bulldozed.
It is understood that RGU bosses view the bid as a deliberate attempt to stall the redevelopment of the site. But last night, a spokeswoman for the university said it would press ahead with the plans regardless.
RGU is working on a £120million revamp of its Garthdee campus.
If the Gray’s building is granted listed status, any future developments or work would be closely scrutinised.
A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: “Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen has been proposed for listing and we have conducted a site visit. We are currently carrying out research to establish whether it meets the criteria for listing.”
Gray’s School of Art opened in 1966 and is one of four main schools located on the banks of the River Dee. Gray’s is one of the oldest-established fine art institutions in Scotland.
The RGU spokes- woman said: “As part of the university’s development of its Garthdee campus, the intention is that Gray’s School of Art will eventually be moved out of its existing building, although no timescale has been finalised.”