Councillors in Aberdeen have narrowly voted to allow controversial alteration work at an A-listed building in the city centre.
Members approved the application for listed building consent for Provost Skene’s House by 21-19.
The local autbority’s planning committee had voted against the proposals to remove the steps and balustrade at the property by 8-5 in November, but the plans were referred to full council for a final decision.
The company behind the £107million Marischal Square project, Muse Developments, applied for consent for the work, which also involves the re-positioning of a stone archway.
A report to councillors said the archway was originally from a now demolished building on Guestrow.
It was moved to Union Terrace Gardens then shifted again to Provost Skene’s House in the 1930s.
However, the application prompted a wave of protest from members of the public.
More than 90 letters were submitted raising concerns about the impact on Provost Skene’s House, which dates back to the 16th century and is regarded as one of the city’s historic jewels.
At the full council meeting today, the local authority’s head of planning, Margaret Bochel, told councillors the application should be treated “entirely separately” from the wider Marischal Square office, hotel and retail scheme.
She said that national planning policy “does not preclude” alterations to historic buildings, provided any work does not damage the “special interest” of the property.
She added: “It is not about preserving these buildings in aspic…unadapted historic buildings can actually be put more at risk”.
Planning committee convener Ramsay Milne had successfully moved at a meeting on November 5 for the matter to be decided by all 43 elected members, amid claims from Liberal Democrat Jennifer Stewart that the Labour-led administration would use its majority to push through the application.
This morning, Mr Milne strongly refuted that claim, which would contravene the councillors’ code of conduct.
He said: “The clear implication was that the administration would whip members, but I can assure members that the Labour group does not discuss these issues and I have not lobbied for this personally.”
SNP councillor John Corall moved for refusal of the plans. He said: “We have seen so many disastrous attempts at rejigging the city centre over the years. Is nothing sacred anymore?”
His amendment was seconded by Conservative Ross Thomson, who said the city should “preserve” its history, and urged councillors to force the developers “back to the drawing board”.
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton, however, dismissed such concerns as “codswallop”. She added: “I find it hypocritical to hear some people talk about preserving history when they were happy to lose the heritage of Union Terrace Gardens.”