A public consultation to gather information from residents and visitors to George Street and nearby streets as the first step towards a potential masterplan for the area is under way.
The questionnaire comprises of eight questions, some of which are multiple choice over specific issues and others are open-ended asking for opinion. Local stakeholders are being contacted directly to take part in the consultation.
It asks what the area is currently like to visit, live, work and shop in, and to know what changes people would like to see in any future plans for the area.
Council leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: “The consultation is to be welcomed and I’d encourage people who live, work, shop, and visit the area to take part.”
The City Council’s City Centre Masterplan states that there are opportunities for redevelopment in the George Street area, particularly beside the Bon Accord shopping centre, noting the area retains the traditional grid street pattern with active ground floor frontages and that improvements could be made to the overall environment.
At this early stage the engagement exercise will gather basic information to set a baseline. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, and subsequent committee instruction, next steps could involve a full engagement programme to inform preparation of a mini-masterplan to highlight renewal projects for the identified area and with wider area connectivity such as the rest of the city centre or the Broadford Works development.
The city centre, new Aberdeen Market, and Queen Street projects are part of the City Centre Masterplan (CCMP), a regeneration blueprint which is transforming the city centre with 50 projects involving the public and private sectors while conserving its proud heritage.
Since it was approved in 2015, the CCMP has already delivered several achievements to date including completion of Provost Skene’s House, the completion of Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Music Hall, Marischal Square, and Broad Street. The regeneration of Union Terrace Gardens will provide a wheelchair-accessible multi-function space in the city centre park including a playpark for the first time.
A once-in-a-generation exciting transformative regeneration of Aberdeen’s city centre, former market, and beach front was given the go-ahead at a council committee meeting in November.
The multi-million projects include the pedestrianisation of Union Street Central, the creation of a new city market, and the revitalisation of the beach area, with plans for a pier, new green hub, and a state-of-the-art sports area which could include a new stadium for Aberdeen FC.
The George Street public consultation is available on the City Council’s website and it runs until 14 March.