Future developments in Aberdeen, Scotland

There are a number of Future developments in Aberdeen, Scotland that have been proposed or have begun to be constructed or inititated already. The majority are to upgrade the poor transport infrastructure of the city or to modernise the city centre, particularly around Union Street.

Many of the transport initiatives have come AbOUT as a result of the NESTRANS voluntry regional transport partnership.

Transport

Aberdeen Airport

Currently there are proposals at Aberdeen Airport to upgrade the runway by adding 300 metres in length. This would potentially be long enough to accommodate long haul Boeing 747 aircraft, although the purpose is to create a better landing strip for smaller though equally long haul aircraft reaching North America and the Caribbean.

There are also plans to upgrade the terminal, the first phase of which is nearing completion with an extension of the departure lounge with a new cafe and an increased number of shopping units.

There has been a significant negative response to the proposals from environmental campaigners.

There are plans to build an £18 million Hilton Garden Inn hotel at the airport which is one of eleven hotel developments proposed in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Airport Railway Spur

  • Moving the Aberdeen to Inverness railway line to run through the Aberdeen Airport terminal, creating a fast link between the airport and the city centre. Currently there is a station at Dyce on the opposite side of the runway from the terminal. Although used by airport staff and tourists, those unfamiliar with the city do not often venture across the airport to the nearest station.

Aberdeen Crossrail

The Aberdeen Crossrail project wants to see new stations built in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as currently there are not enough stations to cover a high percentage of the population. The proposals could lead to a half-hourly commuter service between Inverurie, Aberdeen and Stonehaven during the daytime.

Other railway proposals include:

  • Aberdeen to Banchory.
  • Aberdeen to Peterhead.
  • Aberdeen to Fraserburgh Maglev. There is a small online campaign group Scottish Maglev Support Group for the first UK Maglev levitating train to be built along a new Aberdeen to Fraserburgh line (via.Ellon and Peterhead), as a Maglev test track. This is an unlikely prospect anytime in the near future.

Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is the proposed Aberdeen road bypass. With a costing estimated in excess of £300 million the project has seen much controversy from locals and environmentalists. Having been on the cards for a number of years the bypass looks finally to get the go ahead and will likely be completed around 2010.

City Centre

Bon Accord Quarter

The Bon Accord Quarter Masterplan is a plan to completely redevelop the city centre around the St Nicholas & Bon Accord Shopping Centres, Marischal College and St Nicholas House.

The plan proposes that the two next door shopping centres the Bon Accord and St Nicholas will become one large shopping centre by 2010. This will involve building a second floor on the single story St Nicholas Centre and then connecting it to the Bon Accord Centre via. an enclosed bridge across Schoolhill. The St Nicholas centre was originally designed with the possibility of a second floor in mind.

Also the Bon Accord Centre will see a new entrance being built at Gallowgate with another wing added to house more retail units. This is currently under construction and is due for completion in June 2009. The anchor store of this new section will be Next who will move from their current 4retail units in the St Nicholas Centre..

The next proposal will see the demolition of St Nicholas house, a 1960s skyscraper, which currently houses Aberdeen City Council's offices. They will move into Marischal College, which has been rented by the council for 100 years from Aberdeen University. The college which is largely empty will see its rooms which are largely in a state of disrepair upgraded before the council move in. The Marischal Museum and other university sections in the rear of the building will however remain.

The final proposal is to upgrade the area of George Street next to John Lewis to bring it more into the Bon Accord Centre.

Shiprow Aberdeen City Wharf Development

On Shiprow the old What Everyone Wants building that also houses an NCP car park is undergoing a £27 million development which is turning the building (voted one Aberdeens worst seven buildings in a poll) which will see it get a face lift from the current late 20th century modern facade and have a 107 room hotel and casino built inside. The casino opened recently, with the hotel still under construction.

Union Green

The Green just off Union Street is proposed for redevelopment. Currently a small area attracts boutique shops the dilapidated Aberdeen Market that blights the area has been proposed for an upgrade or indeed demolition to pave the way for retail regeneration of the area.

Union Street

The city's main street Union Street is currently undergoing pedestrianisation. The street itself is currently still open to traffic as the first phases of the pedestrianisation involve extensive upgrades of the roads that will take the strain of the current traffic once it has been closed. Recently both Market Street and Bridge Street have been upgraded, with Market Street's closure causing chaos in the city centre in the run up to Christmas.

Union Square

For a number of years the Union Square Shopping Centre development has been a start-stop development with various difficulties with the nearby train and bus stations.

However, since the 100% ownership by Hammerson in 2006 work on the £250 million development finally started on site in 2007 to provide, once completed, one of Scotland's largest shopping centres. Union Square offers 56 retail units including new retail space suitable for large flagship stores, which has been unavailable in the city for over 18 years.

When complete in Autumn 2009, the development will create a new mixed-use destination for Aberdeen. Complementing the retail offer will be a strong leisure element comprising, 10 screen Cineworld multiplex cinema, 12 restaurants and a new 200 bedroom Jury's Inn hotel. Popular high street brands such as New Look and Arcadia, together with new, efficient retail space and its location adjacent to Aberdeen railway station and Guild Street Bus Station, is proving extremely attractive to retailers.

Apple have also announced that they will be opening a new store in Union Square. The first of its kind in the North East of Scotland.

Sport

Pittodrie Stadium

Pittodrie Stadium is located at a site that is surrounded by other developments and so there is little room for maneuvre to upgrade the site. There had been proposals to move the stadium to the outskirts of the city- within proximity of the Aberdeen Bypass but there is some doubt as to where it might be located.

The site is worth £23 million and is on prime real estate and so would be sold to help pay off the clubs debt. The club and the city council envisage building a community stadium that would give the club guaranteed match day rental. This would lead to better cost efficiencies for the club and more use of the stadium for community projects and events.

Rubislaw Playing Fields

Planning permission has been granted to build an extension with enhanced changing facilities adjoining the existing Rubislaw Field Pavilion. The Rubislaw Playing Fields belong to Aberdeen City Council and are used mainly by Aberdeen Grammar School. A multi-purpose Astroturf pitch has been built.

The biggest of the future developments in Aberdeen, the 5* Trump International Golf Links, Scotland will be built by American billionaire Donald Trump. The initial decision by Aberdeenshire Council to refuse planning permission was the subject of much controversy, and was overturned by the Scottish Government. The £300 million scheme at Menie in Aberdeenshire would see a brand new links golf course built, which is planned to be the best in the world and capable of hosting world class events such as The Open Championship. There are also plans to build a 300 bedroom five star hotel and hundreds of detached holiday homes at the often fog bound and wind swept site.

There has been controversy by environmental groups who fear for the protection of the sand dunes and local archaeologists who (although not against the project) want to ensure the local archeology left by stone age dwellers in the area is properly excavated first.

Aberdeen Sports Village

The University of Aberdeen, partnered with Sport Scotland and Aberdeen council have started phase one of the sports village. Phase two will begin shortly next year. Some of the developments of the complexe include a state of the art gym, cafe, olympic size swimming pool and large sports halls.

Bells Lounge Development

The Bells Lounge/Hotel is due to start work on the re-development of its current hotel on Union Street/Justice Mill Lane. The development contains a 10 storey hotel, bar/restaurant and a underground car park. The development is due to be finished by 2011 as Aberdeen City Council have already granted the site planning permission.