Residents Celebrate Latest Milestone for Council's Community Hub

28 July 2016

A major community development has marked a milestone with a topping out ceremony.

Residents in Middlefield today (Thursday, July 28) celebrated as the roof was completed on the new community hub.

The project is a multi-million pound development which will provide exceptional new facilities to offer residents greater family support, an activity programme and improved health and wellbeing services.

The hub – which will be the biggest community centre in the city when finished – will also be home to a large nursery complete with a sensory room, a café and landscaped green spaces.

There will also be a youth flat which will provide activities and a range of learning opportunities geared to building employment skills.

Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee vice-convener Councillor Gordon Graham said: “This new facility will provide fit-for-purpose facilities to those who work for the benefit of the entire Middlefield community.

“Not only will this new complex include a purpose-built, multi-use games area for young people of all interests, it will also house important health care services which provide a lifeline to families dealing with difficult circumstances.

“From providing frontline care to creating awareness and support for those with mental health issues as well as driving forward adult learning and employment opportunities – the new centre is set to add a real value to the health and well-being of our citizens.”

Partner organisations which will be housed at the centre are the Middlefield Community Project, Lord Provost Henry E Rae Community Centre Management Committee, who have worked on site for 30 years, and NHS Healthy Hoose all of which include a wide range of community activities for children and young people, adults, elderly and those with disabilities.

The new centre is part of a major programme of investment in the Middlefield area which includes the development of 179 new council houses at the Manor Walk and Smithfield sites which are of a high quality, sustainable and energy efficient design.

Also in the pipeline are a series of play park upgrades, the completion of the Aberdeen Treasure Hub - the main location for the City's Collections of historical objects and artworks while not on public display - and a new watercourse to help dispel localised flooding and encourage future biodiversity as well as five new ponds.

The £2.66million development, which is being part funded by Scottish Government’s Regeneration Captial Grant Fund, is being constructed by CHAP Construction and is due to be completed in December 2016.

All of the new homes and the community hub shall be connected to the Combined Heat and Power system which is being extended into Middlefield to provide affordable heating and reducing C02 emissions.