Councillors unanimously approve Aberdeen city centre masterplan

The principles of the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan outlined in a presentation by independent consultants BDP were unanimously accepted – with further details on the delivery programme mechanisms to be decided at the next council meeting on August 19th.

Aberdeen City Council appointed a multi-disciplinary team headed by internationally renowned masterplanning consultancy BDP to work with the public, businesses and a range of stakeholder organisations to draw up the City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme.

BDP’s proposals of the 49 projects planned for the multi-million pound regeneration of Aberdeen city centre includes the pedestrianisation of Union Street, the expansion of Union Terrace Gardens and the redevelopment or demolition of the Trinity Centre shopping mall.

The Castlegate would become the city’s civic heart and the St Nicholas centre would be revamped under the 95-page masterplan.

A total of 1,500 new homes could be built within the masterplan area, a quarter of which would be classed as affordable, principally around a new residential quarter at Green Street and a new waterfront neighbourhood at Torry.

Councillors had agreed not to comment on the plans before the meeting but conveyed their excitement of the proposed developments.

Council leader Councillor Jenny Laing, said: “These proposals once delivered will have a significant and positive impact on our city. With the potential for an extra 5,500 jobs and an increase of £280 million in the city’s gross annual income it is an opportunity that all councillors have today seized.

“We now have to focus on the delivery programme for each of the projects and of course we will need to work with all our partners to secure the funding necessary to change our city for the better and to help build a city that attracts visitors and investors from across the globe.”

Councillor Marie Boulton said a “long-term city vision” is what was needed for Aberdeen.

Councillor Ross Thomson said the framework agreement “enables change, encourages regeneration, transforms the city centre and repairs its broken heart”.

Councillor Jackie Dunbar added: “We all share the goal of improving our city centre and I am pleased to support the proposals presented to us by BDP.”

Councillor Ian Yuill said that an additional 1,600 homes could be created in the city centre that will “help maintain it as a thriving and economically viable place to live and work”.