Union Street Central Nears Completion as Final Infrastructure Works Get Underway

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The Union Street Central Streetscape project is moving into its final phase, with a programme of overnight works scheduled between 30 September and 20 October to complete the remaining carriageway and infrastructure connections.
The works represent some of the final construction activities required as part of the transformational city centre project and will focus on completing underground ducting connections and carriageway reinstatement works.
The first phase will take place on Union Street between 30 September and 14 October, followed by works at the junction of Union Street, St Nicholas Street and Market Street between 16 and 20 October.
Activities will include carriageway planing, excavation, ducting tie-ins, reinstatement and resurfacing.
To minimise disruption to businesses, public transport services and city centre activity, the works will be undertaken overnight between midnight and 6am.

New beach park shines at night

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As the new beach park progresses towards completion, these night-time photographs show how it will be a standout attraction.

The transformation of the beachfront is a key part of Aberdeen City Council’s £150 million City Centre and Beach Master Plan.

The beach works include a skate landscape, play areas, and an amphitheatre with an events field which can hold up to 11,000-people.

It is due to be completed later this year.

Aberdeen City Centre and Beach Master Plan Update

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3 September 2026

Project Works – Union Street Central

In the east section a new pedestrian crossing has been installed immediately west of Market Street. The new cycle lane continues to take shape with kerbs in place and preparations underway for the final surfacing.

Two new bus shelters have also been installed on the north footway and preparations are ongoing for the new seating, bins and other street furniture that will form part of the completed project.

Work will progress over the coming weeks on replacing the paving at the entrance to St Nicholas Street with access to businesses, premises and other buildings maintained throughout.

In the central section, new paving has been completed around the Beaverbrooks frontage and at Back Wynd junction. While work on the cycle lane continues towards Belmont Street.

Hoarding has been erected around the Smith Screen at the entrance to the St Nicholas churchyard to allow repair and renovation works to be undertaken.

In the west section, repairs and preparation works on Union Bridge have continued and work will progress between the bridge and Bridge Street on completing new paving, drainage improvements and installing the outstanding granite setts. New bus shelters and street furniture will also be installed on Union Bridge.

 

Project Works – Market

Several key elements of the building are completed with others becoming increasingly visible. The building is hoped to be wind and watertight by arou8nd the end of September.

Over the coming weeks the focus will be on completing more of the exterior, including the remaining glazing, cladding and roof detailing works.

Internal fit our works will continue with the installation of feature ceilings, internal spaces and building services. Construction will progress around the scenic lifts and within key public areas.

 

Project Works – Castlegate 

BT Openreach is progressing utility services works along the south footway by replacing existing infrastructure with modern ducting to improve the resilience of its network. The south footway works should be completed over the coming weeks, allowing Openreach to switch to the north footway.

A temporary pedestrian crossing has been installed on King Street to support the upcoming utility diversions and allow works to progress safely within the west section of the site.

The new pedestrian routes are clearly signposted and access to businesses and residences on the Castlegate is being maintained at all times.

 

Project Works – Beach

The events field, play area and skate landscape areas of the beach are nearing completion and finishing works for those sections will progress over the coming weeks.

Internal works on the new buildings will also be progressing towards completion while the main play area, including the imposing tower structure is taking shape and will continue to progress.

Openreach begins work on the Castlegate

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 17 August 2026

Telecoms firm Openreach has started utilities works on the Castlegate streetscape improvements project.

The BT-owned company is excavating on the south side of the project site as part of the work to upgrade services.

The streetscape improvements are being carried out by Morrison Construction as part of Aberdeen City Council’s £150 million City Centre and Beachfront Master Plan.

Co-operation between the project team, Openreach and the other utility providers including SGN, Vodafone and CityFibre has identified the location of all services, chambers and ducts and allowed an agreed co-ordinated programme for the utilities works.

The Castlegate streetscape improvements are due to be completed in summer 2027.

 

 

Castlegate Streetscape works update

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Following a site meeting with utility services representatives on the Castlegate, we can now confirm the following position on works due to be carried out:

  • The excavated area on the north side of the Castlegate outside Gio’s by La Lombarda will be temporarily reinstated with work beginning today and ready on Thursday 6 August for outdoor seating once the fencing has been realigned to accommodate the new footpath and backfilled area
  • Access to Siam Cottage will remain with temporary solutions put in place when required
  • Additional Open for Business and access signage will be implemented by the site contractor and hub North Scotland
  • The BT Openreach works on the south side of the Castlegate will begin on Monday 17 August
  • Pedestrian access to all shops and premises will be maintained as currently in place during the utility services works
  • Extended footpath and associated works will begin on Thursday 6 August and are anticipated to be completed by Friday 14 August

Further updates on the progress of these works will be posted on this news page.

Castlegate utility works to begin

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Excavation works to install new utility services will get underway on the Castlegate from Monday 22 June.

 

The works will involve digging trenches around the perimeter of the Castlegate to allow utility services to be installed. Access will be maintained to businesses and premises throughout the works.

 

The programme will be delivered in phases as outlined below:

Phase 1: Excavation work will begin on the south side of the Castlegate, from Old Blackfriars heading east towards the Carlton Bar. A temporary tarred pedestrian walkway will be installed in advance of these works. The excavation phase is expected take approximately four weeks.

Phase 2: Utility installation works will follow, undertaken by BT Openreach, City Fibre and Vodafone, and are expected to take four weeks. During this period, a temporary tarred walkway will also be created on the north side of the Castlegate, from La Lombarda to Justice Street.

Phase 3:  Excavation will then begin on the north side of the Castlegate in the first week of August, lasting approximately four weeks. To facilitate these works, the bus lane on King Street next to the Castlegate and the walkway on the west side between La Lombarda and Old Blackfriars will be closed. The existing pedestrian crossing outside the Archibald Simpson will be temporarily relocated outside the La Lombarda entrance on King Street

Phase 4: Services will be installed on the north side between La Lombarda and Justice Street and are expected to take four weeks. At the same time excavations on the south side will be backfilled. Excavation of the King Street walkway between La Lombarda and Old Blackfriars will begin in the first week of September and is expected to take around three weeks.

Phase 5: Slab laying will begin on the reinstated south side between Old Blackfriars and the Carlton Bar. The excavations on the northside will be backfilled between La Lombarda and Justice Street. Services will be installed on the excavated walkway between La Lombarda and Old Blackfriars and are expected to take four weeks.

Phase 6: Final reinstatement work will include backfilling of the King Street walkway excavations. Slab laying will begin on the north side of the Castlegate between La Lombarda and Justice Street.

 

The footway works are expected to be completed in October. Please note that the above programme is indicative and may be subject to change.

Union Street Central streetscape furniture layout revealed

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08/06/2026

This diagram shows the layout of the new street furniture when the Union Street Central works are completed.

It shows where benches, planters and screened street bins will be located, along with the position of four new bus stops and four bike racks.

The diagram also shows crossing points for pedestrians and outlines the bus and cycle lanes. Bus services information will be released nearer the completion of works.

Also marked on the diagram are the locations of audible cycle lane alerts to aid passengers using the two bus stops between Correction Wynd and St Nicholas Street.

More details on the audible cycle lane alerts and the street furniture will be released closer to the completion of works.

Aberdeen City Centre and Beachfront Master Plan Update

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5 June 2026

Project Works – Union Street Central

Works have been progressing across all sections of the site with some areas moving closer towards completion.

Hard landscaping has now been completed in the East Section and work has been progressing on the new pedestrian crossing at Market Street while surfacing is under way on the new cycle lane.

In the Central Section hard landscaping has been completed between Back Wynd and Correction Wynd while the cycle lane is progressing and works has moved forward at the Back Wynd junction with the installation of underground services and foundations.

Activity in the West Section has focused on the Union Bridge area where repairs to the concrete deck are now complete while waterproofing works are almost complete. New kerbing has been installed across the bridge, preparing the area for final surfacing and finishes.

Over the coming weeks, a key milestone will be the reopening of Back Wynd through to Market Street, which includes the introduction of the new bus island to support public transport operations.

Slabbing works and sett laying will continue to progress towards the west end of the site including progressing the setts across Union Bridge.

 

Project Works – Market

Works continues at pace on the Market with scaffolding completed on the East Green side, allowing the installation of solar panels, access points and lightning protection.

Glass installation has also been completed on the East Green frontage at 91-93 Union Street with further glazing continuing across the main building. Fire protection and waterproofing works have continued across multiple parts of the building as work progresses to fully seal the building.

Work has continued on the building’s steel frame finish along with the installation of high-level access walkways and safety features which has allowed the gradual removal of internal scaffolding as areas are completed.

Over the coming weeks there will be a strong focus on progressing the roof works, advancing the internal fit out works and further developing the external appearance of the building.

Further glazing works will continue and help define the building’s final appearance while internally, there will be a transition into the next phase of fit-out works including the start of installing the feature ceiling.

 

Project Works – Castlegate 

The removal of existing stone setts and surfacing has continued across the site along with further investigative works to confirm ground conditions for future progress.

Excavations on both sides of the Mercat Cross have progressed with the east side now reaching formation level and the west aside approximately halfway to completion.

During the excavation works several unrecorded and unidentified live utility services were discovered and carefully managed in conjunction with utility providers.

Planned utility diversion works have continued including the completion of a Scottish Gas Networks trench along with investigation works by City Fibre and Vodafone to inform their next stage of activity.

In the coming weeks work will continue to focus on utility diversions and preparing the site for the main construction phase and the start of drainage installation.

 

Project Works – Beach

Works are progressing well across the site with the internal completion of both the amphitheatre and gateway buildings.

The soft play surfacing for the climbing and ball areas has also been completed while soft landscaping to the beach park, events field and the pedestrian spine have also progressed.

External lighting works have also progressed across all areas of the site along with the installation of bollards at the Links Road end of the pedestrian spine.

The mechanical and electrical first fix works have been completed on Worms 1 and 2 on the main play structure along with the installation of play equipment on both. The cladding in Worm 3 has been progressed.

Looking ahead, over the coming weeks the soft landscaping will be completed for the events field along with the completion of the gateway building extension.

Paving and slabbing around the hub building will be progressed along with the internal decoration. Play equipment within the beach park will also be installed.

The cladding and wooden decking for Worm 3 will be progressed while work also begin on erecting the platform floors on the main eight-storey play tower.

Aberdeen City Centre and Beachfront Master Plan Update

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14 May 2026 

Project Works – Union Street Central

Over the past weeks work has been progressing across the east, central and west sections of the project site.

A new bus island has been completed in the east section and the permanent pedestrian crossing opened. Access from the Back Wynd steps to St Nichlas Kirk has also been reinstated.

In the central section, a new power feeder pillar has been installed to support future infrastructure works and excavation of the north footway commenced, setback from the shop fronts between Beaverbrooks and TAG Heuer. On the south footway, the installation of new paving slabs has continued across the Union Bridge towards the Trinity Centre. New carriageway granite setts were also laid between Northern Diamond and the Trinity Centre.

Work in the west section has focused on excavating the carriageway on the Union Bridge to expose the deck and a new concrete protective slab installed to prepare the bridge for upcoming waterproofing and surfacing works.

Over the coming weeks, in the east section the carriageway between Back Wynd and Market Street will be reopened at the end of May with the setts ready for traffic to run on them. The remaining works in that section, including final surfacing of the cycle path and installing street furniture will follow in the coming weeks.

Work will continue in the central section along the north footway between Beaverbrook’s and TAG Heuer with out of hours overnight works to progress paving between now and 29 May to avoid any potential disruption to businesses.

The pedestrian crossing between Primark and TAG Heuer will reopen to improve access.

In the west section, waterproofing works will take place on the Union Bridge deck followed by the installation of new kerbs along the south footway and the commencement of paving slab works. The installation of granite setts will progress across the bridge as this phase of the works moves forward.

 

Project Works – Market

Work has progressed with visible advances across external areas, the roof and internal spaces as the build moves to the next stage of construction.

Along the East Green, the blockwork base course has been completed with the wall cavities filled and the surrounding ground backfilled. Waterproofing works continued across several areas of the building while roof activities progressed.

Inside the building, first-fix mechanical and electrical installations continued at ground level alongside joinery and masonry works. High level works have commenced in the roof space including fire boarding and the installation of the siphonic drainage system which allows the rapid and effective rainwater removal.

Over the next few weeks external masonry works will begin on the upper levels while roof works will see the installation of hatches and other roof-mounted equipment.

The installation of insulation to the soffit slabs in the service areas will move forward while internal masonry works at ground level are expected to be completed. The joinery, mechanical and electrical first-fix works will progress while gantries and handrails will be installed in the roof space along with lightning protection systems and bird protection measures on the roof.

 

Project Works – Castlegate

The focus has been on ground investigation works, clearance and preparing the site for the next phase of works.

Around 90% of the existing slabs have been removed so far and as part of the project’s sustainability commitments, 45 pallets of slabs have been donated to Aberdeen University for reuse in the Old Aberdeen conservation area. Additional granite material available will be reused in the beach project and set aside for use in the Castlegate lanes as part of the Heritage and Place Programme.

Excavations have commenced for gas diversion works, alongside wider preparations of utility services upgrades. New totem way finder signage has been temporarily installed to help pedestrians navigate their way round the site.

Over the coming weeks, gas diversion works will continue on the north side of the site along with planned diversions for electricity and telecoms services. Bulk excavation works will get underway along with the start of drainage installation.

The existing post box near the Carlton Bar will be removed as works progress through this stage.

 

Project Works – Beach 

Over the past weeks, the upgrade to the Links Road junction has been completed while the cladding has also been completed on the amphitheatre building and is progressing on the canopies.

The soft landscaping on the events field and beach park has also been progressed along with the coloured surfacing on the paths. The mechanical and electrical installation to all the new buildings has also progressed along with soft play surfacing at the climbing frame area.

The internal play equipment fit out has been completed in Worm 1 in the main play area.

Over the next few weeks work will begin on the platform installation on the main tower while the mechanical and electrical fit out for Worm 1 and Worm 2 will continue while the cladding installation to Worm 3 will progress.

The soft landscaping to the events field will be completed along with the internal fit out and commissioning of the gateway and amphitheatre buildings.  The hard landscaping for the pedestrian spine will progress along with the installation of external furniture throughout the entire site.

Waterproofing work to be carried out on Union Bridge

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Waterproofing works are due to be carried out this week on the south footway of Union Bridge as part of the Union Street Central streetscape improvement works on behalf of Aberdeen City Council.

Contractors will use specialist non-toxic resin during the works on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April. The resin has a distinctive odour during the application which is similar to paint thinner and becomes a slight plastic or rubber smell as it cures.

The resin takes around an hour to cure with the smell fading after that. It is widely used throughout the construction industry and is applied by specially trained operatives in a controlled process. The resin presents no public risk.

Any smell will be minimal and temporary outside the immediate work area. These works will be subject to the appropriate weather conditions, and the planned dates may be changed.

The waterproofing works are necessary as part of the upgrading of the Union Bridge which was completed in 1805 and is the largest single-span granite bridge in the world.

John Edwards, project director for hub North Scotland, who are Aberdeen City Council’s delivery partner for the £150 million City Centre and Beach Master Plan, said: “Our contractors have spoken to nearby shops and businesses to reassure them any odour will be temporary.”

The Union Street Central improvements are due to be completed later this summer with Morrison Construction Infrastructure as the main contractor.

The other key elements of the City Centre and Beach Master Plan are a new market, called Flint, on the Green, which is being constructed by Morrison Construction Building North-east and is due for completion in summer 2027. It will be operated by local hospitality business, the McGinty Group.

There is also a new beach park, being constructed by Robertson Construction, which is due for completion this summer and Morrison Construction Infrastructure has recently begun work on major streetscape improvements at the historic Castlegate area, which is due for completion in summer 2027.