One of Aberdeen’s biggest retailers has called for plans to pedestrianise Broad Street to be dropped from redevelopment proposals for the former city council headquarters.
John Lewis bosses say they have “reluctantly” tabled an objection to the £107million Marischal Square scheme, which is now likely to be the subject of a public hearing.
The local authority’s head of planning has recommended that objectors and supporters are given the chance to put forward their views in detail before a decision is reached on the controversial project
Among a number of letters submitted about the Muse Developments Ltd design is the detailed submission from John Lewis and its transport adviser JMP Consultants Ltd.
A separate letter from the owners of the Bon Accord and St Nicholas shopping centres, as well as 20 other smaller properties in the surrounding area, has also been lodged.
The consultants raise “significant concerns” about closing off Broad Street to traffic and highlight what they describe as “failings” in the council’s in-house transport assessment.
JMP says the number of vehicles drawn to Marischal Square would “far outstrip” the car parking provision proposed, and claims there would be increases of between 22% and 45% in journey times on routes surrounding Broad Street at peak traffic times.
The consultants also fear shoppers heading for the Bon Accord and St Nicholas centres would be “significantly adversely affected” by the closure of Broad Street.
John Lewis associate Chris Mitchell adds in his letter: “Should, for whatever reason, the applicant persist with the proposed pedestrianisation of Broad Street, then it is absolutely incumbent upon the council as planning authority to ensure that additional studies are undertaken, and appropriate mitigation measures put in place, to ensure there is no such significant adverse impact upon the surrounding city centre road network.
“If the applicants fail to demonstrate this, then we trust that Aberdeen City Council, as planning authority, will have no option other than recommending refusal of the application.”
A separate letter was submitted from GVA James Barr on behalf of F&C REIT Asset Management, which manages the Bon Accord and St Nicholas centres and owns 20 separate properties on Schoolhill, Upperkirkgate, George Street and St Andrews Street.
It also objects to the application on the basis of the pedestrianisation of Broad Street, arguing the traffic plans are “premature” to both a full assessment and the forthcoming city centre masterplan.
It adds that the potential impact on Schoolhill and Upperkirkgate has not been fully examined.
Alasdair Morrison, an associate for GVA James Barr, also suggests there may be an impact on new investment in improving both shopping malls.
He adds: “It is our client’s opinion that the civic square could be successfully created to enhance the amenity of this area, without the requirement to fully pedestrianise Broad Street at this location.
“We would question whether the assessment undertaken has fully appraised the potential alternatives to full exclusion of vehicular traffic from Broad Street.”