Backers of the £107million Marischal Square project yesterday said it could attract 1,500 jobs to the north-east area when completed.
Steve Turner, Muse regional director for Scotland, said the hotel, retail, office and restaurant scheme would provide an additional 300 posts during the construction phase.
Mr Turner also said the development would help to address a shortage of top class office and hotel accommodation – and boost the city’s “high end” bar and restaurant offering.
He said: “Muse currently has more than 20 active projects across the UK, including London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, and for Aberdeen to continue to take full advantage off the city’s ongoing and deserved prominence as a leading UK business destination, we believe the city needs more hotel space, additional city centre grade A office accommodation and more of the high end bars and restaurants which help service and support a booming business economy.
“We have already agreed terms with Marriott Residents Inn to occupy the hotel element of the project and our commercial property advisers are making significant headway in attracting top end bar and restaurant businesses to establish their first presence in the city – if this project were to go ahead.”
While insisting the development was “good news” for the city, Mr Turner said his company was “very acutely aware of the strength of feeling” among local residents.
He stressed that there had been an extensive public consultation process, which took place in October, November and December 2013 and April this year, with more than 4,000 people taking part.
Mr Turner said those views had “clearly influenced” the full planning application submitted earlier this year, with changes including more space around Provost Skene’s House.
He added: “We have listened to the people of Aberdeen and the wider business community and it is my belief, as well as that of my team, that Marischal Square is a much-needed development which can help shape the future and long-term prosperity of this important area of the city.”
Stephen Barker, from architect Halliday Fraser Munro, said the design process began “by looking to the past”.
He said Marischal College was one of the “most recognised buildings in Scotland”.
Mr Barker said the work to improve the design around Provost Skene’s House would create a “secret garden” for visitors to enjoy, along with a covered courtyard surrounded by restaurants and cafes at the ground level of the development which would provide a “new civic heart” for Aberdeen.
Mr Barker added that the new buildings would be just seven storeys high, compared to the old St Nicholas House, which was 14 storeys.