The company decided to relocate from the 1970s building in 2021, citing its outdated condition, and has since moved to the Silver Fin complex on Union Street.

Documents submitted with the application state it was “unlikely” that a new operator would take on a building of this size, age and state, and put it to good use.

They add: “Shell is proposing to demolish the buildings as their age, construction and floor plates do not lend themselves to an efficient or sustainable future use.

“The buildings are predominantly vacant and have been stripped of furnishings.

“There were no credible opportunities to reuse the buildings in their current form given their size.”

Shell opened its first Aberdeen office in Union Street in 1965, before moving to the Tullos site.

The distinctive building has been a familiar landmark since 1979.

The energy giant aims to demolish all of the buildings across the 30-acre site, a process which could take about a year.

Documents added: “Following demolition there would remain a brownfield opportunity site suitable for redevelopment.

“The applicant is exploring alternative future uses of the site however, at this stage, there are no future proposals to consider post demolition.”