SoCo work given green light by city

CONSTRUCTION work is set to begin on the controversial £35 million Old Town gap site development after councillors gave developers the green light.

A hotel, shopping and leisure development will be built on the SoCo site, which has been lying empty for almost a decade following a fire in 2002.

The move is expected to create up to 200 new jobs.

Yesterday’s decision came after a long-running row over the architectural style of the building, particularly the gable end visible from South Bridge.

Heritage groups urged councillors to back plans for a “classical” gable, similar to the original, which councillors on the development management sub-committee of the planning committee backed yesterday.

Andy Jansons, managing director of developer Jansons Property, said: “This is a clear sign that the city is keen to secure the right kind of development in the city centre.”