City council chiefs will today unveil their multimillion-pound plans to transform Aberdeen’s historic Broad Street.
Architects Halliday Fraser Munro have produced a “design narrative” of what the busy thoroughfare could look like after councillors backed a partial pedestrianisation plan in the summer.
Councillors will be asked on Thursday to vote on the proposals – which include a new roundabout at the Upperkirkgate end, a water feature, public lawn and a boulevard of trees.
Council chiefs hope the designs will allow public events to be hosted and have said new granite slabs and Caithness stones will make up a “simple, elegant and robust” walkway similar to Belmont Street.
Giant TV screens could be erected for special occasions such as the football World Cup or royal weddings, and an ice rink or pop-up football pitch could feature seasonally.
The Press and Journal understands about £4million has been earmarked for the ambitious scheme which would be ready in time for the opening of the Marischal Square development in summer 2017.
In June, councillors voted to allow access to buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.
A report prepared for councillors reads: “Activities around the square will create the kind of lively atmosphere at day time and nighttime that the council wishes for the space.
“Uses around the square will include retail, restaurants, offices, residential, hotel, cultural and civic – creating a genuine, economically sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood within the city centre.
“It is proposed to reuse the existing Caithness paving stones but to supplement them with granite slabs, kerbs and setts.
“The grass lawn will be raised up to bench level creating a green oasis in the busy city centre.
“The intention is for the lawn to be immaculate, treated like your front lawn or a bowling green and beautifully illuminated at night.”
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton, who leads the 25-year city centre masterplan, said pedestrianisation was being more widely used by cities across the world.
She said: “I welcome the proposed new layout for outside Marischal Square and Marischal College, the materials to be used will be very similar to those used on Belmont Street, which is already recognised as pedestrian-friendly.
“We believe it is important that we have a continuity of materials in order that they become identifiable with the pedestrian-friendly zones which we aim to promote through the continued roll out of the masterplan.
“The ‘new look’ Broad Street will be laid out in such a way that it will allow events such as markets and festivals of varying sizes to take place throughout the year and as and when required can be closed off completely to all traffic.
“The recommended removal of the traffic lights and the continuation of the materials on the top section of Upper Kirkgate again will signify that you are entering a pedestrian-friendly zone and that you will need to modify your driving accordingly.
“The removal of the traffic lights in other UK city centres and city centres across the world has become far more commonplace as cities try to improve quality of place, amenity and experience for residents and visitors as one of the measures to attract people to spend more time in them.
“All of the changes will be monitored very carefully, the cabling will be put in for traffic lights in case we feel that it is necessary to put the light back.
“Cities all across the UK and the world have successful pedestrian-friendly zones, which is shared spaces with all types of vehicles including trams, cars, buses, bikes, even Segways.
“If we want to see changes for the better in our city centre, where car users can still come and park, where other forms of transport can have access but where the pedestrian comes first, we will all have to work together to achieve this and that includes taking responsibility for our and others’ safety.
“I believe the people of Aberdeen can – and want change.”
SNP group leader councillor Stephen Flynn welcomed the proposed designs.
He said: “It is fantastic to see that the design quality has greatly improved and what is being put forward is exactly the kind of proposal that everyone has been wanting.
“There can be no doubt that what has helped get us to this point is that the council has had the time to take a more considered approach involving external partners.
“Although the administration criticised us for blocking them from rushing ahead I am sure they will now be very thankful because the extra time has resulted in a higher quality design as well as the potential for financial backing from partners.”
Vehicles or no vehicles?
The Liberal Democrat group voted in favour of a total ban on vehicles on the street when the issue was discussed in June.
First Bus and Stagecoach both objected to proposals to close off Broad Street to all traffic, citing concerns it would affect their businesses.
And council bosses admitted their objections may have swayed some councillors in their decision.
Last night, Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill said: “I find it extremely disappointing that details of the designs have been leaked to the Press and Journal.
“From the Liberal Democrat point of view there is no such thing as part-pedestrianisation. You either have vehicles on the space or you don’t.
“But obviously the decision has been made and we want to see the designs on how best to make them work.”
Finance convener Willie Young insisted partial pedestrianisation was “the best of both worlds” as the road could be completely closed to vehicles if big events were on.
He said: “People said that Marischal Square would be all doom and gloom but I’m confident that it will turn out to be one of the best developments the city has ever seen.
“Another important aspect is that we are using granite which has a clear link with the city’s heritage.
“Aberdeen isn’t the first or last city to have partial pedestrianisation and I’m sure that it will be safe for pedestrians.”
