Work to erect scaffolding on the front of the former British Home Stores building in Union Street, Aberdeen, will begin on Monday 16 September 2024.

The works form part of the new Market project, which is a key element of the City Centre and Beach Masterplan (CCBMP) to transform Aberdeen.

Part of the south walkway in central Union Street, directly in front of former BHS building, will be closed off to the public for five days during the scaffolding works.

The public will still have full access to the shops and services on the south walkway on either side of the closure. JD, the Aberdeen Gift and Tourist Shop, Aberdeen Vinyl Records and the HSBC bank will still be open for business as usual from the west end of the walkway, as will Attic Clothing from the east side.

The scaffolding works are due to be completed on Friday 20 September 2024 and the walkway will be fully reopened as normal.

The biggest redevelopment of Aberdeen beachfront for 35-years is about to get fully underway as part of Aberdeen City Council’s City Centre and Beach Master Plan.

Construction teams will begin work on three key sites next week as part of a £50 million programme to help make the beach area a must-visit destination.

Work will also shortly begin on stripping out the former beach leisure centre and detaching it from the adjoining Beach Ballroom before demolition proceeds. The Linx ice arena will remain open as normal during the works.

The major improvements will see the creation of a class-leading beach park, a large events field and the enhancement of the famed Broadhill in Phase A of the beachfront works.

Aberdeen City Council’s co-leaders welcomed the move as a key moment in the overall plan to make Aberdeen Beach a destination of choice for the public.

Co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “Aberdeen Beach and the Links are a great asset for the city and wider North-east. The council is committed to working with beach users, partner organisations, and businesses at the beach to make Aberdeen Beach and the Links the envy of other cities and a place where local people and visitors alike will want to return to again and again.

“This new, exciting and high-quality development is the next step to make Aberdeen an even better place for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “The start of the biggest redevelopment the beachfront has had for 35 years is an important milestone and we look forward to continuing to drive forward with our plans for transforming the beach area for the enjoyment of everyone.

“This investment in the beachfront is alongside the current redevelopment on Union Street Central and the new market building and these all have key roles in ensuring we have a vibrant and exciting city which will be enjoyed for generations.”

The main works can now begin as completion of diversion work on key underground services nears an end. A large gas pipe across the two sites has been diverted via Links Road along with work on water, electricity and broadband services around the boundary of the scheme.

The three sites will start to be fenced off from next week and the construction compound will follow on the former cricket pitch behind the beach leisure complex and the events field.

The beach park will include a play park, sports area/pump track, a gateway building, a hub building and a canopy shelter. The park will act as a key entry point between the city centre and the wider beach area.

A central feature of the play park will be the Rope Factory, a large-scale bespoke play structure, which is set to become an iconic beach attraction. This was shaped through workshops with Aberdeen school children and young people and was inspired by the city’s rope making history.

Within the play area there will be four zones – Sport, Adventure, Woodland, and Coastal – all with different activities in them.

The 2.5 hectare events field will be able to host festivals, larger concerts and gatherings. At its heart will be a 1 hectare flexible open area which can also be used as an informal space and will be semi-enclosed by woodland.

Broadhill is a beachfront landmark sitting between the Kings and Queens Links and offering outstanding views across the city and out to sea. The existing path network will be upgraded with improved surfacing along with viewing platforms and seating areas.

The biodiversity of the five-hectare Broadhill site will be enhanced with additional planting which will add to the distinctive natural environment of the area and increase habitat and ecological value.

During the works on the beach and events parks, the Beach Boulevard will be temporarily closed between Links Road and the Esplanade from the beginning of October with diversions clearly signposted.

The Broadhill works are due to be completed in the summer of 2025 while the beach and events parks are planned to be completed in 2026.

A site team will shortly begin separating and reconfiguring service connections between the Beach Ballroom, the ice arena and the adjoining former leisure centre. That will allow the strip out of the leisure centre followed by a start to demolition works. The demolition is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025.

The beach works are part of a £150 million commitment by Aberdeen City Council towards the City Centre and Beach Master Plan. Works are currently under way on streetscape improvements for the Union Street Central area while construction on the new market will begin this month. Public consultations have also been held for a new urban park in Queen Street and improvements to the Castlegate.

Plans are progressing to create a new urban park on land at Queen Street in the City Centre, following recent approval at Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee.

The redevelopment of Queen Street as a whole will create the opportunity to introduce new uses into the area, as well as new public spaces. The wider project will improve the amenity of the area and encourage economic and environmental sustainability in this key City Centre location. The Council’s investment in this space also aims to help stimulate investment from surrounding private building and landowners. Options for the redevelopment of the former Police HQ are being reviewed by the Council but the urban park, which will be on the land on the other side of Queen St from the former HQ, has approval to progress.

The Council’s design team are now finalising their designs for the urban park in advance of a planning application in September. This follows several months of detailed and constructive engagement with neighbouring organisations and other stakeholders.

The urban park concept includes provision for outdoor seating and informal performance areas, a sensory garden, terraced garden and enhanced street greening. Each space within the new urban park will perform a range of environmental and social functions, categorised into the overarching themes of urban nature, community, heritage and arts and culture.

If you would like to find out more about the proposals from the design team please come along to a drop-in event on Thursday 29th August, from 4pm to 7pm, at Aberdeen Arts Centre. There will also be the opportunity to comment on the proposals when a planning application is lodged in September.

Full consultation is available to view here: Queen Street Consultation Boards

Significant updates on two major city centre improvement projects – a new urban park and streetscape works to the Castlegate – have been agreed today by Aberdeen City Council.

Detailed and technical design along with the negotiation and execution of contracts for delivery of the construction programme are to take place for both the urban park in Queen Street and the Castlegate public realm improvements.

Both projects, which were approved at Finance and Resources Committee, are part of the City Centre and Beach Masterplan (CCBMP) which is designed to reinvigorate the areas culturally and economically, attracting people to spend time in them to live, work or visit.

Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “Aberdeen City Council is moving forward with plans for an Urban Park at Queen Street and the resurfacing of the Castlegate  – further investing in our city centre to ensure that it remains a place people want to live, work, invest or visit on holiday.

“Queen Street’s urban park will create a new unique location in our city centre which I am sure people will enjoy in years to come. “

Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “This investment in the Queen Street urban park and the improvements to the Castlegate complements other projects including Union Street central, the new market building, the new playpark and events park at the beachfront, and other initiatives such as the Council’s £1million Empty Shops Grant Scheme.

“These projects all have key roles in creating a vibrant and exciting city centre for people to visit, shop, work, invest, and spend time.”

The report to committee said the urban park concept includes provision for outdoor seating and informal performance areas, a sensory garden, terraced garden and enhanced street greening.

Each space within the new urban park will perform a range of environmental and social functions, categorised into the overarching themes of urban nature, community, heritage, and arts and culture.

The scheme will have a single recognisable identity as Queen Street Urban Park. However, within the park a series of subspaces are proposed, allowing for different uses and each with a subtly different character.

Phase one of the urban park would be to the north side of Queen Street in a disused area, and phase two would be the site of the former police headquarters.

The committee also agreed the scope and cost the demolition of the former police headquarters should be sought, as developers’ feedback from market testing to date has indicated a preference to demolish the current office building and prepare the site ready for future development.

The report said the Castlegate streetscape improvements are designed to reestablish the area as a central civic location, providing a high quality space which creates a destination at the end of Union Street and encourages sustainable economic activity.

The space also provides an important gateway to the beach, be a focus for visitors and tourists, and help to deliver the city’s events programme.

The project comprises public realm and streetscaping improvements including street furniture, public art, improved lighting, enhanced street greening. An active travel route for pedestrians and cyclists will be included through the Castlegate towards the beachfront, along with vehicular access for servicing businesses.