The landmark former hotel, Hilton Treetops on Springfield Road closed suddenly in February and may be knocked down to make room for new homes at the site. Similarly, the family-run The Mariner Hotel in Great Western Road will remain closed at the coronavirus lockdown as the owners lodged plans with the council to build homes in its place.

Malcolm Allan Housebuilders has purchased the former Hilton Treetops and one of the firm’s directors has confirmed that plans for the 6.75-acre site are at a “very early” stage, but could involve the demolition of the hotel.

At the same time, Mike and Sharon Edwards the owners of The Mariner Hotel, confirmed that plans to build more than a dozen homes plans had already been submitted to the council.

They said: “The lockdown has been a challenging time for many hospitality businesses in Aberdeen and we are no exception.

“We have enjoyed being part of a lovely West End community. It has been a privilege to be part of it. While it is indeed the end of an era we are heading out to start a new adventure – joining the great team out at The Cults Hotel.”

It is understood a number of workers, including two chefs from the hotel’s popular Atlantis restaurant, will also take up work at The Cults Hotel – which Mr Edwards co-owns – as it reopened on Monday.

Proposals for 10 flats lodged with Aberdeen City Council also detail another four homes being built in the hotel’s car park. Concerns over how “viable” the hotel would be in the future were cited by architects Halliday Fraser Munro as they brought forward the plans.

Eight public objections have voiced concerns that the proposed 2.5-storey houses would not be in keeping with the Great Western Road conservation area, and about parking and congestion in Gray Street.

Last night Mr Edwards said: “We are going through the planning process and will see how that progresses. We would hope and imagine the residential development would reduce traffic in the area compared to when we were operating as a hotel, with all the deliveries, guests and residents and everything else.”

Earlier this year, The Press and Journal reported a number of developers had been interested in the Hilton Treetops site which is thought to be worth more than £6 million. It was said the land would be able to accommodate around 100 houses, or potentially three times as many flats.

Over 70 members of staff were made redundant at the Treetops when its owners announced it would cease trading in February. The owners blamed difficult trading conditions for the decision to close, although they said there was potential for the venue to reopen in the future.

However, Bruce Allan, a director at Malcolm Allan Housebuilders, said: “It is pretty much trashed inside for use as a hotel. I don’t see it coming back to that use again.”

He said the company is in the “very early” planning stages with regards the site, adding that the building’s potential demolition is something “we are considering”.