The boss of the finance firm behind the controversial Marischal Square plans for Aberdeen has insisted that the views of the public were taken on board during a consultation.
Euan Munro, chief executive of Aviva Investors, a partner with Muse Developments Ltd for the office, hotel and retail scheme on Broad Street, was responding to a letter from a north-east MSP.
Aberdeen Central member Kevin Stewart had written to the heads of both Aviva and Muse asking for a re-think following a narrow council vote to progress with the £107million project on March 5.
Protestors claimed the views of the public were not taken on board and raised concerns that surrounding A-listed buildings Provost Skene’s House and Marischal College would be overshadowed.
The campaigners also argued that the taxpayer would have to foot the bill for any unlet units.
In his correspondence, Mr Munro argued that the initial proposals were changed following the public engagement events attended by more than 4,100 people.
He said: “Key changes to the original design, in response to that feedback, included a greater use of granite, reduction in building heights across the development (particularly relating to Broad Street and the views across to Marischal College) and a further opening up of space around, and views of, Provost Skene’s House.”
Mr Munro added that the response so far from prospective tenants had been positive. He added: “There has been an extremely encouraging reaction to the development from leading businesses seeking to take space and establish a presence in Aberdeen for the first time and following the most recent council decision, we are now in a position to move these forward, all of which is in line with the council’s ambitions to shape Aberdeen for the future.”
Mr Stewart was not impressed with the response, however. He said: “It seems that Aviva are following the Labour-led council administration’s ostrich-like mentality. They are burying their heads in the sand, ignoring the views of the majority of the people of Aberdeen and live in hope that opposition to the scheme will blow over.
“Of course Aviva feel that they are invincible as they will lose nothing even if they do not manage to find tenants for the development or Aberdonians don’t use it as the council has all of the liability.”