Aberdeen must act now if it is to turn a bold vision to rejuvenate the city centre into a reality.
Finance convener Willie Young said taking forward Aberdeen’s city centre masterplan was “the most important thing”.
He said: “With this masterplan, we have at last got a vision for the city centre.
“The most important thing is we need to stop putting obstacles in the way of achieving this.
“We need to take that vision which went out to the public and move it forwards.
“We need to make it a reality.
“We absolutely have to move on this plan – it is so important.”
Mr Young made the comments after councillors unanimously backed the 20-year regeneration plan for the city on Friday.
The plan, proposed by independent consultants BDP, contains 49 projects, ranging from new housing, to lighting up key city buildings at night to pedestrianising parts of Union Street.
One concept is to flatten police headquarters on Queen Street and transform the whole area into a new residential quarter to be known as Queen’s Square.
The plans also include the refurbishment of Marischal College’s eastern annex and Greyfriars John Knox Church.
There would also be 330 apartments as well as cafes and shops.
The vision for Queen’s Square is one of “cafes and shops spilling out onto pedestrian-friendly public streets and public space”.
There will also be a strong emphasis on the arts with the Lemon Tree and Aberdeen Arts Centre nearby.
The brief for Queen’s Square said: “Together with Marischal College, the Lemon Tree and the Arts Centre the proposed mix of uses forms a vibrant urban quarter that is active through the day and into the evening.
“It becomes a pleasant spot for city workers to take time out during the
day, for culture vultures to extend their visit to the Lemon Tree or Arts Centre and for residents to enjoy convenient access to the city centre’s
employment and leisure opportunities.”
It continues: “With the council interested in consolidating public service provision in the presently vacant eastern annex of Marischal College and Police Scotland’s aspirations to downsize to alternative accommodation, there is potential to redevelop the Town House extension and former Grampian Police headquarters along with other buildings and under used spaces within the Queen Street area.
“The location within the historic city centre core provides an opportunity for mixed use development comprising ground floor commercial uses and residential apartments to upper floors.”
Mr Young said: “I think that what we do at Queen’s Square will really complement what we are trying to do with Broad Street.
“This development will also bring families and people back into the heart of the city centre.”
A decision on whether to full or part pedestrianise Broad Street as part of the masterplan will be made at the full council meeting on Wednesday.
The multi-million pound masterplan also includes plans to part pedestrianise parts of Union Street, Schoolhill and Guild Street.
The masterplan states that the “heart of the city will be reinvigorated” through plans to remove cars from the main throughfare, restricting traffic to bicycles, buses and taxis only.
The plans also state that removing cars from Guild Street would mean relocating the station taxi rank and drop off area, creating an opportunity to expand and enhance the station concourse.
It states that along with the redevelopment of Atholl House, this would provide a better gateway and enhanced connections to the Trinity Centre and Union Street beyond.
