Discussions to be held with community group over Victoria Road School site

04 December 2017

Further discussions are to be held over the future of the Victoria Road School site in Torry.

Councillors on Aberdeen City Council’s Finance, Policy and Resources committee on Friday (1 December 2017) instructed officers to meet with members of the Torry Development Trust to consider options for the vacant property. A report will come back to the committee to outline the outcome of that dialogue before a decision is made.

Members were considering a report recommending the Council clears the site, including the demolition of the dis-used school building, to enhance the prospects of attracting a buyer for the land.

Previous plans for private housing development at the location fell through earlier this year after the proposed scheme was refused planning permission.

Councillors opted not to agree to the recommendation to move forward with the demolition and instead agreed on a compromise, giving community representatives a further opportunity to formulate alternative options.

Cllr Douglas Lumsden, Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader and convener of the Finance, Policy and Resources committee, said: “There are clearly advantages of being able to market this as a cleared site, but I recognise Victoria Road School is part of Torry’s heritage and the local community has been very vocal in its desire to see the building preserved.

“It is prudent that we take the opportunity to consider solutions that may include the preservation of the property, whilst recognising that a stalemate is simply not an option. A decision must be made.

“A disused site is of no benefit to Torry and it is vital we enable regeneration – this is a property which was deemed surplus to Council requirements in 2009 and we must end eight years of uncertainty. There is a willingness from the community and the Council to move forward.”