Aberdeen city council has chosen Muse Developments as its preferred partner to redevelop the prime St Nicholas House site
Muse beat off competition for the 2.4-acre site – previously the authority’s corporate HQ – from rivals including Ediston Properties, HFD Group and Hazeldene Group.
Backed by Aviva, Muse will create a new mixed-use quarter for the city to be called Marischal Square.
The council will keep a long-term interest in its former 175,000 sq ft HQ by leasing back the development and receiving a proportion of the rental profits from tenants for 35 years.
Muse’s proposals are indicative and the design is yet to be finalised, but plans include a scheme with linked buildings, the tallest of which will be 10 storeys.
It will house offices, a 250-bedroom boutique hotel, cafes, restaurants and shops.
Broad Street will be pedestrianised and the Provost Skene’s House is included in the proposals, where there are plans to create a garden area.
A public consultation lasting 12 weeks will now be held before a planning application is submitted.
The site will be developed in a single phase and completion is due in 2016.
Ryden advised the council; CBRE acted for Muse.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
