Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan given national recognition

19 November 2015

Aberdeen City Council's vision to regenerate the heart of the city over the next 20 years has been recognised on a national stage.

The City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme was shortlisted in two separate categories at the UK-wide Planning Awards.

The masterplan, produced by the City Council with internationally renowned consultants BDP (Building Design Partnership), was put forward for both the Award for Strategic Planning and the Stakeholder Engagement in Planning award.

Aberdeen City Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor Marie Boulton, said: "I am delighted that our City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme was shortlisted for these national awards.

"It is recognition for both the process that was followed in terms of engaging with the public and also the masterplan itself, which sets out a clear, well-evidenced vision for the future of the heart of the city.

"Crucially, it will be backed up by a detailed delivery programme, as there is no sense in having a large document that sits on a shelf."

The City Council found itself up against competition from the City of London Corporation, Plymouth City Council, Guildford Town Centre and Newcastle City Council. The winners were announced in an evening ceremony in London on Tuesday, November 17.

Councillors in Aberdeen unanimously approved the City Centre Masterplan and Delivery Programme in June following an extensive public and stakeholder engagement programme.

More than 4,000 people living and working in Aberdeen were involved in the consultation process on the multi-million pound regeneration plans.

The projects include 12 community-based initiatives, 13 infrastructure proposals, 13 economic outputs and 11 environmental developments across the city.

Key housing, building, transportation and public realm concerns raised during the consultation process were taken into consideration in the preparation of the document that will guide the development of the city centre for the next 20 years.

The strategic document looks at what can be done to revitalise the whole of the city centre, including Aberdeen's historic main thoroughfare, Union Street.

The masterplan proposes the partial pedestrianisation of Union Street, while the west end of the route could be given a contemporary business/retail/leisure feel with renovated green spaces at Golden Square and Bon Accord Square.