ABERDEEN council chiefs have celebrated the start of works to upgrade a section of the city’s main thoroughfare of Union Street – the biggest change to the street since it was built more than 200 years ago.
The works to the Union Street Central area – between the Market Street and Bridge Street junctions – are designed to make it more attractive and vibrant while promoting walking and cycling as part of the City Centre and Beach Masterplan.
Plans include new pavements with locally-sourced granite, a road surface, and cycle lanes, and will help to create a plaza entrance to the new market building.
Councillor Ian Yuill, Aberdeen City Council co-leader, said, “The work to Union Street central will complement the new market building and contribute to making our city centre an even more attractive place to visit. This investment in Union Street central, the new market building, and other initiatives such as the Council’s £1 million Empty Shops Grant Scheme, all have key roles in creating a vibrant and exciting city centre for people to visit, shop, work and spend time.”
Fellow co-leader councillor Christian Allard added, “The new high-quality streetscaping for Union Street Central is the next step to make Aberdeen’s city centre a great destination for residents and visitors to enjoy. Union Street which is 200-years-old is due a makeover – a local makeover as local and Scottish materials are being used for the streetscaping which will help the economy.”
The council is to receive £20 million from the UK Levelling Up Fund which will be used towards the development of Union Street Central and the new market building.
Aberdeen City Council’s development partner for the project is hub North Scotland and operations director Ewen Fowlie said, “These works will help transform the city centre and we are working with businesses and residents to minimise the impact during construction.”
The works are being carried out by Morrison Construction in parallel to the works being carried out at the new market building. The works for the first few months will include:
- trial holes dug in the road to find exact locations of utilities;
- removing all street furniture on the south side then the north side;
- removing the road surface;
- installing drains, gully traps, ducting, and kerbing.
There will also be works carried out by utility companies at the same time replacing and upgrading existing utilities when the road is opened up. Works are due to be completed, depending on what is uncovered by utility companies, weather, and supply chain availability of materials, in autumn 2025.
