Aberdeen’s “booming” economy is reflected in new figures from city planners which show a seven-fold increase in approved office space in just 12 months.
Demand rocketed in 2013 compared to the previous year, with a high level of interest in peripheral business park developments and major investment in a string of city centre projects.
These include Dandara’s £20million The Point development on the historic Triple Kirks site and Titan Investors’ £60million Silver Fin project at the old Bells Hotel in Union Street.
Hotel development has also snowballed, with 294 new bedrooms added in 2013 (in premises with more than 10 rooms) compared to none in 2012.
Last night, council leader Barney Crockett welcomed the “incredible” rate of business investment in the city.
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce agreed the statistics reflected its own findings, but warned of upcoming challenges of staff recruitment coupled with increased traffic and housing demand.
Last year, the city’s planning authority granted permission for 873,000sq ft of class four office space, which is categorised as developments larger than 5,400sq ft.
In 2012, consent was given for 124,000sq ft of class four space.
Mr 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.”
A large proportion of the office space approved was within business parks such as the Kingswells Prime Four scheme and the D2 and ABZ projects at Dyce. However, developments are also taking place at more established industrial areas such as Altens, as well as the Pitmedden and Kirkhill estates in Dyce.
The recently branded North Dee Business District, just south of Union Square, is the focus of a number of new projects. These include the planned conversion of the former Aberdeen Seafood Park by Enquest.
The city council’s old headquarters St Nicholas House will also be transformed as part of a £100million mixed-use hotel, office and retail scheme.
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