Esslemont & Macintosh Aberdeen
A landmark commercial to residential conversion in Aberdeen city centre. Transforming this Category C listed former department store into 24 contemporary flats while preserving its Victorian heritage.
Location
Aberdeen City Centre, Scotland
Project Type
Commercial to Residential Conversion
Total Units
24 Residential Flats
Status
Planning in Progress
Heritage Status
Category C Listed
24
Residential Flats
4
Storeys
Category C
Listed
1890s
Original Build
A New Chapter for Aberdeen's Beloved Department Store
The Esslemont & Macintosh building stands as one of Aberdeen's most recognisable landmarks. Built in the 1890s during the height of the Victorian era, this granite-fronted department store served generations of Aberdeen families for over a century. When the store closed its doors, the question arose: what future could this magnificent building have?
Our answer was a comprehensive commercial to residential conversion that would breathe new life into this historic property while creating much-needed housing in Aberdeen city centre. The project involves transforming approximately 40,000 square feet of retail space into 24 high-quality residential flats, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to spacious three-bedroom family homes.
As a Category C listed building, the Esslemont & Macintosh building is recognised by Historic Environment Scotland as being of regional or more than local importance. This designation means that any alterations must be carefully considered to preserve the building's special architectural and historic interest—a challenge we embraced with enthusiasm.
Navigating Listed Building Change of Use in Scotland
Converting a listed building in Scotland requires a delicate balance between preservation and adaptation. The Esslemont & Macintosh project exemplifies our approach to working with heritage properties—respecting what makes them special while finding creative solutions for modern use.
Our work began with a comprehensive heritage assessment, documenting every significant feature of the building: the ornate granite facade, original cornicing, decorative plasterwork, and the building's distinctive retail character. This assessment informed our design strategy, identifying areas where original features must be retained, restored, or carefully adapted.
Working with Aberdeen City Council's planning department and their conservation officers, we developed proposals that satisfied both the requirements for viable residential accommodation and the need to preserve the building's heritage significance. This collaborative approach—engaging early and often with planning authorities—is essential for successful listed building projects.
Key Heritage Considerations
- Preservation of granite facade and original windows
- Retention of significant internal features
- Sympathetic material choices for new elements
- Reversible interventions where possible
- Documentation of any features requiring removal
- Appropriate treatment of protected details
Commercial to Residential Conversion: Our Approach
Converting a large commercial property to residential use in Aberdeen requires careful planning across multiple disciplines.
Feasibility & Assessment
We began with a thorough feasibility study, examining the building's structure, services, and layout to determine the optimal configuration for residential units. This included surveys of the existing building fabric, identification of structural constraints, and analysis of natural light availability—crucial factors in creating desirable living spaces.
Design Development
Our design for 24 residential flats maximises the building's generous floor-to-ceiling heights and large windows. Each unit is designed to Scottish space standards, with particular attention to acoustic separation between properties—a critical consideration when converting open-plan retail space to individual dwellings.
Planning & Listed Building Consent
The application process for the Esslemont & Macintosh project required both planning permission for change of use and listed building consent for alterations. We prepared comprehensive submissions including design and access statements, heritage impact assessments, and detailed drawings showing the treatment of significant features.
Building Regulations
Converting commercial premises to residential use in Scotland requires compliance with Scottish Building Standards. This includes fire safety provisions (escape routes, compartmentation, sprinklers), acoustic performance between units, ventilation requirements, energy efficiency measures, and accessibility provisions.
Scottish Building Standards — Key Requirements
Services Provided for This Project
FAQs: Commercial to Residential Conversion in Scotland
A commercial to residential conversion in Aberdeen involves assessing the existing building's structure and layout, preparing designs that meet Scottish space standards, obtaining planning permission and (for listed buildings) listed building consent, and ensuring compliance with Scottish Building Standards including fire safety, acoustics, ventilation, energy efficiency and accessibility.
Yes. If the building is listed, any alterations that affect its character require listed building consent in addition to planning permission for the change of use. This is a separate consent process administered by the local planning authority in consultation with Historic Environment Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) offers various grants and funding streams for the repair and conservation of listed buildings, including the Historic Environment Repair Grant and the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS). Eligibility depends on the building's listing category, the nature of the works, and the broader public benefit.
A standard planning application for change of use typically takes around 8–13 weeks for a decision. Listed building consent runs in parallel but can extend the overall timeline if additional information or consultations with conservation officers are required.
Scottish Building Standards require compliance across fire safety, acoustic separation, ventilation, energy efficiency, and accessibility. For conversions, the standards are generally applied as for new buildings, though some flexibility may be available where historic fabric makes full compliance impractical.
Not every commercial building is suitable. Feasibility depends on the building's structure, layout, natural light, location, planning policy, and (for listed buildings) heritage constraints. A pre-application feasibility assessment is the best way to understand what's achievable before committing significant capital.
From Concept to Approval
Initial Survey & Feasibility
2 MonthsComprehensive survey of the existing building, heritage assessment, and feasibility study for residential conversion.
Concept Design
3 MonthsDevelopment of initial layouts, unit mix options, heritage strategy, and preliminary discussions with Aberdeen City Council.
Planning & Listed Building Consent
4 MonthsFull planning application including heritage impact assessment, design & access statement, and listed building consent application.
Technical Design & Building Regs
3 MonthsDetailed technical drawings, building regulations submission, structural coordination, and contractor liaison.
Planning a Commercial to Residential Conversion?
Whether you're converting a listed building in Aberdeen, applying for HES grants, or navigating change of use applications anywhere in Scotland, we're here to help.