Plans approved for Aberdeen City Centre regeneration

Aberdeen City Council has unanimously approved BDP’s plans for the multi-million pound regeneration of Aberdeen city centre on 24 June.

BDP was appointed by Aberdeen City Council to prepare a new vision and delivery programme for the city centre in 2014, and was chosen unanimously from a shortlist of 6 after more than 120 initial expressions of interest were received.

Scott Mackenzie, director of architecture, said the proposals were imaginative, transformational and challenging.  He continued: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to transform Aberdeen city centre. The people of Aberdeen have been very clear in detailing what they believe will work and is required to maintain the city’s position as one of this country’s key destinations.”

“Get this right and Aberdeen will be in a great position to enhance its hard earned status as one of the UK and Europe’s leading cities as well as ensuring that its economy and opportunities prosper over the next few decades.”

Following an extensive period of public and stakeholder engagement in which more than 4,000 people living and working in Aberdeen were involved, BDP identified 49 projects across four masterplan themes.

The 20-year plan includes a programme of traffic measures that will reduce the negative impact caused by large volumes of private cars in the historic core, the extensive upgrading of Union Street, the expansion of Union Terrace Gardens and the re-development of the Guild Street area to provide an enhanced environment for people arriving into the city centre by rail or bus services. The Castlegate will become the city’s civic heart and the St Nicholas Centre would also be revamped.

Other projects include community based initiatives, infrastructure proposals, economic outputs and environmental developments across the city.