Aberdeen's police headquarters to be closed and sold off

Police Scotland’s headquarters in Aberdeen is to be closed and sold off.

The Scottish Police Authority gave the go-ahead to a proposal that will see the Queen Street office vacated in 2021.

First built in the early 1970s ahead of the formation of Grampian Police in 1975, the site has served as the north east’s policing headquarters for 45 years.

However, the stay will come to an end next year with the force moving in with other authorities.

Staff will be relocated to Marischal College alongside Aberdeen City Council, Woodhill House alongside Aberdeenshire Council, and existing police buildings in Aberdeen.

Assistant chief constable John Hawkins said: “This decision marks an exciting time for not only the north east, but also for Police Scotland as a whole.

“When the Queen Street office opened 45 years ago, it was very much state-of-the-art and has served both Grampian Police and Police Scotland extremely well over the decades.

“However a building of this age does have its limitations and high costs in keeping it maintained.

“Co-locating with public service partners in shared facilities not only facilitates greater partnership working but it also helps to reduce our overall physical and carbon footprints, which is a key objective of our estates strategy.”