A £50million five-star hotel and country club development proposed for Aberdeen could restore Hazlehead Park as a “jewel” among the city’s visitor attractions, councillors have been told.
Backers of the ambitious plans for the greenbelt site said the complex would provide a boost to tourism and meet a demand for high-end accommodation caused by the impending closure of the Marcliffe at Pitfodels.
A pre-determination hearing was held at the council chambers yesterday in advance of a decision on the application, which is considered a departure from the city’s local development plan.
Elaine Farquharson-Black, head of the planning division at Burness and Paull, appeared on behalf of Carlton Rock, and told the hearing: “Hazlehead should be the jewel in Aberdeen’s open space network, sadly the park is no longer considered to be the attraction it once was.”
She said more detailed plans for the scheme, which includes a 250-bed hotel, spa, holiday chalets and an equestrian centre, would be submitted at a later date and quoted from the city’s strategic development plan, which states that “confident and courageous decisions” are required to realise a successful future for the area.
She added: “I believe this is the type of development that Aberdeen desperately needs if we are serious about implementing that vision for the area, and Hazlehead Park in particular.”
Graham Stuart from BMJ Architects and John Robertson from Hyder Consulting fielded questions from elected members, along with council roads and planning officials.
Concerns were raised about access to the site, and the work required to bring a dilapidated local roads network within the park up to scratch.
Increased traffic was chief among the concerns from local residents, although the council only received 19 letters of representation.
William Sell, chairman of Craigiebuckler and Seafield community council, said: “There is support for the development in principle.
“However, we are of the opinion that there may be a price to pay in terms of damage to the natural environment of the park, as well as an increase in traffic on our roads infrastructure.”