Call for special Marischal Square project meeting in Aberdeen

The planned development overlooks Marischal College

The SNP group at Aberdeen City Council has requested a special meeting be held to debate the future of the controversial Marischal Square project.

The call came after Lord Provost George Adam ruled the issue would not come before councillors at the next full meeting of the local authority.

SNP councillors tabled an emergency motion to get the plans for the retail and office complex back on the agenda.

But the Lord Provost ruled the motion incompetent.

The council's deputy leader Marie Boulton, an independent, told BBC Scotland the Marischal Square row was being used as a "political football" by the SNP.

She offered a "categorical guarantee" there was no intervention in the Lord Provost's decision by the Labour-led administration.

Developers Muse are behind the "world class" hotel, office and retail project.

Opponents argue it would block the view of historic Marischal College and Provost Skene House.

Planning permission for the project was granted last year.

It would be built on a city centre site created by the demolition of the former St Nicholas House council headquarters.