Council officers have approved plans for a multimillion-pound car park at the north-east’s flagship hospital.
Last month, new images were unveiled, showing the £10million, 1,000-space facility at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The proposals for the multi-storey building at ARI form part of £150million improvements – which include the hospital’s new A&E – at NHS Grampian’s Foresterhill Campus.
Currently, there are just 748 spaces for these two groups, despite the hospital receiving about 5,000 visits every day.
The development has been made possible by a donation of £10.73million from Sir Ian and Lady Helen Wood’s charity, the Wood Foundation, in May last year.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman confirmed last night that the application had been approved through officer’s delegated powers – meaning it did not require approval from a committee.
She said: “The planning application for a new multi-story car park at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been approved by Aberdeen City Council under powers delegated to the Head of Planning.
“Approval follows successful negotiations between the council’s planning team and NHS Grampian that has resulted in a proposal for a significant landmark building of high design quality on a very prominent site near the main hospital entrance
“The conditions attached to the application includes provision of a travel plan and a car park management plan to address transportation concerns and ensure that there will be suitable provision of disabled parking spaces on site.”
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman added: “We welcome this decision by Aberdeen City Council. The team working on this project, made possible by the very generous support of The Wood Foundation, are making the necessary arrangements to allow work to commence.
“This will include detailed arrangements to minimise any disruption likely to affect the Foresterhill site during the build period. More information will be made available as the programme of works is finalised.”
City council finance convener Willie Young said: “I think that the people of Aberdeen will be eternally grateful for the Wood Foundation’s very generous gesture.
“Aberdeen City Council have approved the application and now we can get on with the development.”
The Wood Foundation could not be contacted for comment last night.