Public consultation Aberdeen today The vision for Aberdeen city centre The masterplan objectives The four key themes Intervention areas What the masterplan achieves

Stakeholder support

Three extensive engagement exercises: Issues and challenges 24-27 Sep14 Vision for the city centre 28-29 Nov 14 Draft masterplan & projects 14 Mar - 6 Apr 15

2,812 participants 2,233 written responses 62% support the Vision 68% agree with the Objectives Support for the Projects (grouped into

themes) ranged from 66% to 93%

Why have a masterplan?

Responding to the challenges of an increasingly competitive and international context.

Supporting economic growth. Building on Strategic Investment Plan

and Economic Strategy. Securing benefits and opportunities for

people of City and Shire. Managing and directing investment in

the city centre. A shared vision for Aberdeen city

centre.

City centre challenges

Energy is the primary driver of prosperity, but a broad based economy would be more sustainable.

Aberdeen is strong on business tourism but attracts less general tourism.

This is Scotland’s least deprived city, but pockets of real deprivation persist.

High ranking quality of life indices are not reflected in the city centre environment or range of services and facilities.

The value of the historic city centre is compromised by the dominance of traffic and poor pedestrian environments.

5th most entrepreneurial city in UK

75% hotel occupancy

Young – ½ the population is aged 34 or less

1.1 million tourists in 2013

Ranked 1st for car ownership in Scotland

1st – highest business start up rate

outside London 2nd lowest claimant count 1 in 7 is a student

Vision for the city centre

The vision for the city centre is:

“A City Centre for a global city”

The purpose of the city centre masterplan and delivery programme is:

“Energising the city centre to deliver prosperity and a better quality of life for all”

Vision for the city centre

A city centre that contributes more to an internationally competitive economy.

An internationally distinctive city centre, recognised worldwide but with new energy and colour.

Building on business tourism to increase leisure visits.

Housing an international population and workforce, including students, as well as giving local residents world-class services.

Masterplan objectives Specific to Aberdeen. Addressing city centre

challenges and opportunities. Linked to the vision of a global

city. A basis for benchmarking

progress and achievement.

An integrated masterplan

Energy and More

Economic strategy Energy sector Innovation and smart specialisation Creative industries Culture and tourism Skills training and employment

13 city centre projects New offices, research and innovation

centres New creative space New and improved visitor facilities Enhanced cultural programming Sector specific skills training

A City for People

Community strategy City centre living Improving the retail environment

12 projects New and improved city centre

neighbourhoods at Castlehill, Queen Street, Torry Waterfront, Regent Quay and Woolmanhill

Attracting new city centre residents and helping existing communities and families to enjoy city centre living

New and improved shopping experiences, including independent retailers

Light of the North

Public realm strategy Places for People Squares and gardens Lighting – Aberdeen in colour

11 projects across the city centre A pedestrian first approach in key city

centre streets such as Broad Street, Guild Street, Justice Mill Lane, Union Street and Upper Kirkgate

Reinvigorated public spaces including Union Terrace Gardens and Castlegate

A lighting masterplan to bring the city centre to life

The Connected City

The infrastructure strategy Removing non-essential traffic from central

areas Promoting a cycling city Prioritising the bus and improving rail

linkages Ensuring a resilient utilities infrastructure

13 projects in the city centre An integrated car parking and roads project

to reduce city centre traffic Better facilities for cycling and bus users Improvements to the railway station and

rail services Smart broadband, energy and waste

networks

Intervention areas 1. Denburn Valley 2. Heart of the City 3. Queen’s Square 4. Union Street West 5. Station Gateway 6. Castlegate / Castlehill 7. North Dee / Torry Waterfront

Denburn Valley

Union Terrace Gardens reconnected into the city centre, leading to a new city centre residential quarter around the Denburn Valley and Woolmanhill New footbridge connection from Union

Terrace to Belmont Street Former Woolmanhill hospital converted

into hotel and apartments Denburn Health Centre and car park

redeveloped to create a new residential quarter, set in the Denburn Valley

Denburn Valley

Union Terrace Gardens reconnected into the city centre, leading to a new city centre residential quarter around the Denburn Valley and Woolmanhill New footbridge connection from Union

Terrace to Belmont Street Former Woolmanhill hospital converted

into hotel and apartments Denburn Health Centre and car park

redeveloped to create a new residential quarter, set in the Denburn Valley

Heart of the City

Creating a stronger retail heart to the city, reinvigorating Union Street and integrating the public realm of the medieval and Georgian cities: Removing cars from the central

section of Union Street, remodelling the public realm to create space for business to spill out into a people friendly environment.

Redevelopment of the market. Remodelling of the St. Nicholas Centre

with a winter garden with views to Mither Kirk .

Heart of the City

Creating a stronger retail heart to the city, reinvigorating Union Street and integrating the public realm of the medieval and Georgian cities Removing cars from the central

section of Union Street, remodelling the public realm to create space for business to spill out into a people friendly environment

Redevelopment of the market Remodelling of the St. Nicholas Centre

with a winter garden with views to Mither Kirk

Queen’s Square

A new, desirable city centre neighbourhood, in historic surroundings. Cafes and shops spill out onto pedestrian friendly streets and squares. Cultural uses such as the Lemon Tree and the Arts centre add to this vibrant urban quarter Ground floor commercial uses Residential apartments above Reuse of Marischal College Annex and

Greyfriars Church

Queen’s Square

A new, desirable city centre neighbourhood, in historic surroundings. Cafes and shops spill out onto pedestrian friendly streets and squares. Cultural uses such as the Lemon Tree and the Arts centre add to this vibrant urban quarter: Ground floor commercial uses Residential apartments above Reuse of Marischal College Annex and

Greyfriars Church

Union Street West

The new West End – an elegant city street and distinctive business address, providing a focus for independent businesses and entrepreneurs Anchored by Aberdeen City Rooms –

providing business services, managed workspace, exhibition and events space and a home for the city centre development team

Skills and business training programmes

Public realm enhancements

Union Street West

The new West End – an elegant city street and distinctive business address, providing a focus for independent businesses and entrepreneurs Anchored by Aberdeen City Rooms –

providing business services, managed workspace, exhibition and events space and a home for the city centre development team

Skills and business training programmes

Public realm enhancements

Station Gateway

The phased redevelopment of this key approach to the city centre, with new business and commercial developments framing a radically transformed arrival experience Removal of cars from Guild Street Remodelled station Redevelopment of Atholl House Longer term reconfiguration of the Trinity

Centre to transform the link to Union Street

Station Gateway

The phased redevelopment of this key approach to the city centre, with new business and commercial developments framing a radically transformed arrival experience Removal of cars from Guild Street Remodelled station Redevelopment of Atholl House Longer term reconfiguration of the Trinity

Centre to transform the link to Union Street

Castlegate / Castlehill

Aberdeen’s main civic square and a key orientation point for visitors, linking Union Street with the harbourside and the Beach

The square will become a flexible events space and will be surrounded with visitor-orientated leisure uses: New hotels Markets Cafes and restaurants

Beyond the square new housing will strengthen the Castlehill neighbourhood

Castlegate / Castlehill

Aberdeen’s main civic square and a key orientation point for visitors, linking Union Street with the harbourside and the Beach

The square will become a flexible events space and will be surrounded with visitor-orientated leisure uses: New hotels Markets Cafes and restaurants

Beyond the square new housing will strengthen the Castlehill neighbourhood

North Dee

A developing city centre office quarter, overlooking the River Dee and anchored by the Global Energy Hub, a centre supporting collaboration and innovation in the Aberdeen’s energy sector: A planned approach to include an

integrated approach to public realm and a shared car parking infrastructure

Driving footfall through Union Square from the south

Stepping stone to the Torry Waterfront development

North Dee

A developing city centre office quarter, overlooking the River Dee and anchored by the Global Energy Hub, a centre supporting collaboration and innovation in the Aberdeen’s energy sector: A planned approach to include an

integrated approach to public realm and a shared car parking infrastructure

Driving footfall through Union Square from the south

Stepping stone to the Torry Waterfront development

Torry Waterfront

Riverside living and new hotels (including a hotel academy providing sector specific training), helping to regenerate the city south of the Dee

A riverside park and footbridge across the Dee gives this community great accessibility to the city centre as well as spectacular views Riverside residential developments Hotel and Hotel Academy Improved public realm and city centre

linkages

Torry Waterfront

Riverside living and new hotels (including a hotel academy providing sector specific training), helping to regenerate the city south of the Dee

A riverside park and footbridge across the Dee gives this community great accessibility to the city centre as well as spectacular views Riverside residential developments Hotel and Hotel Academy Improved public realm and city centre

linkages

What the masterplan delivers £1bn investment in the city centre 1,400,000 ft2 of new office space,

supporting over 5,000 new jobs, many of which will be focussed on the energy sector

180,000 ft2 of new innovation space supporting over 500 new jobs

Over 3,000 new residents living in the city centre, 2,200 of working age

Additional local spend of £17m per year from new local residents

£2.8bn additional GVA within the Aberdeen City Region economy

Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Stakeholder supportWhy have a masterplan? City centre challengesVision for the city centreVision for the city centreMasterplan objectivesAn integrated masterplanEnergy and MoreA City for PeopleLight of the NorthThe Connected CityIntervention areasDenburn ValleyDenburn ValleyHeart of the CityHeart of the CityQueen’s SquareQueen’s SquareUnion Street WestUnion Street WestStation GatewayStation GatewayCastlegate / CastlehillCastlegate / CastlehillNorth DeeNorth DeeTorry WaterfrontTorry WaterfrontWhat the masterplan deliversSlide Number 32