Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has pledged its full support to the £140m City Square Project, which is designed to transform the city centre.

Plans unveiled by Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF) were backed by the chamber's policy council, which represents 1,225 businesses across the city, in response to a public consultation. ACSEF announced earlier this month it is hoping to attract a "major national gallery or museum" as part of the flagship scheme, which boasts a new city square with gardens, a cultural hub and an outdoor performance stage.

AGCC chief executive Bob Collier said: "Our city centre does not reflect the region's international status and success. To secure our long-term economic viability beyond oil and gas, Aberdeen City and Shire needs a vibrant city centre. "This project will bring that vibrancy to the centre by making it far more attractive and accessible, better connected, greener and safer by providing a new civic space and gardens for us all to enjoy."