REVEALED: What Aberdeen could look like with £150 Million regeneration
The Council have released images of what could be done to the beachfront and city centre
Last updated 5th Nov 2021
Councillors in Aberdeen are set to consider the allocation up to £150m of capital investment, committed in the Budget set in March this year.
The projects under consideration will transform the landscape of Aberdeen’s historic city centre and beachfront areas.
Members of Aberdeen City Council’s City Growth and Resources Committee will meet on the 12th November to discuss and decide recommendations within the detailed report that outlines the pedestrianisation of Union Street, the creation of a new city market, and the revitalisation of the beach area, with plans for a pier, new green hub, and a state-of-the-art sports area that could include a new stadium for Aberdeen FC.
Also unveiled today are detailed computer-generated images of what this once-in-a-generation transformation will look like.
Councillors will also learn how Aberdeen City Council has successfully secured £20m from the UK Government’s levelling up fund to help finance the remodelling of the city.
Aberdeen City Council’s Convenor for City Growth and Resources Committee, Councillor Ryan Houghton, said: “These plans are a hugely ambitious statement of intent for Aberdeen. They will not only act to heal the city from the economic damage inflicted by COVID-19, but will also see us improve the health of our citizens by creating an open, accessible beachfront.
"The proposals will breathe new life into our city centre, boost job creation and promote a wealth of opportunities to allow businesses and traders to thrive.
“Above all, this new cityscape will bring the city back to the people, giving them easy access to a 21st century way of living that is open, inclusive and environmentally friendly.”
Vice-Convener for City Growth and Resources Committee, Councillor Jenny Laing, said: “The council is proud to put forward this report detailing the potential £150m transformation of Aberdeen’s beach and city centre. The report, and the detailed projects outlined within it, show the depth and breadth of our ambition, and our commitment to bring real, positive change for the people of Aberdeen.
“These plans are only the beginning of a process that we envisage will turn Aberdeen into a city that not only residents of the north-east but indeed the whole of Scotland will be proud of.”
Following the release of Aberdeen City Council’s latest City Centre Masterplan Committee Report published today, Aberdeen FC Chairman, Dave Cormack, said: “We welcome the Council’s progress with their ambitious vision for the city centre and the regeneration of the beachfront which includes an integrated leisure arena including an ice rink and new stadium with community facilities.
“The scale of the vision and the pace at which it’s being taken forward signal the Council's real ambition for our city, which the Club shares. The revitalisation of the beachfront, with a new stadium as a stunning focal point would, we believe, provide a compelling destination attracting locals and visitors. It is exactly the type of forward thinking which is required as Aberdeen rises to meet the challenges which the city was already facing before the pandemic. It will provide a real stimulus as we embark on the road to recovery from both the pandemic and the shift away from reliance on fossil fuels.
“The report and images released by the Council today demonstrate the “art of the possible” recognising that the project is still at an early stage of development. The Club will work with the Council and its consultants to provide input as they develop a detailed business case and funding plan for the project."