Plans for a £200million expansion of Aberdeen’s flagship Union Square shopping centre will go on public display from tomorrow.
An exhibition on the proposed extension – which would include an Imax cinema, hotel and multistorey car park – will be held at the centre over the weekend.
Hammerson, the owner of the site, unveiled the scheme last month and is expected to lodge a planning application for the development towards the end of the year.
General manager Ryan Manson said: “It is our aim to continue to provide high-quality leisure and retail space, delivering an exceptional visitor experience for our customers, in line with the aspirations of the city and its residents.
“The 300,000sq ft extension proposed on the site of our current surface car park represents a unique opportunity to significantly enhance Union Square’s retail and leisure offer that will provide real and tangible benefits for our customers and the city going forward.”
The developer hopes to start work on the extension by early 2017, with completion pencilled in for spring 2019.
A total of £200million of investment has been earmarked for the scheme, with 1,000 construction jobs and 1,000 retail jobs expected to be created.
Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing said: “The fact that these expansion plans from the Union Square operators have come forward shows there remains great confidence in the retail and leisure sector in Aberdeen city centre.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to attend the consultation events and have their say on the proposals before they are considered by the city council.”
The public will be able to fill out questionnaires at the centre tomorrow and Saturday, while a consultation website will go live as well.
The existing 700,000sq ft centre opened in 2009 after being built at a cost of £275million.
Mr Manson said: “What I would like to highlight is that the proposals are at an early stage, and it is important to us that the people of Aberdeen and the wider community have an opportunity to help inform the design process.
“I would encourage anyone with an interest in the proposals to come along to one of our public exhibitions to hear about the plans in more detail and importantly provide us with your feedback.”