WORK has started in Aberdeen on the Castlegate improvements as well as other parts of the city’s £150 million city centre and beach masterplan.
The Castlegate vision will look to re-establish the area as a central civic location as well as an important gateway to the beach.
Site activity started in March and works include diverting or accommodating utilities. A report to Aberdeen City Council’s finance and resources committee stated that, despite steps taken to mitigate the risks during the pre-construction design and procurement phase, the utility works continue to pose ‘significant’ risk to the programme.
The council added that, with the exception of BT Openreach, all of the known utility providers have provided quotations and programmes for their works which have been accepted and co-ordinated with the master construction programme which will help manage risks. BT Openreach has so far been unable to commit to a start date and programme of work, it continued.
The council report also noted that completion of the base build of the new £40 million market building – which will feature a food hall and retail space – is programmed for spring 2027, with further fit-out works expected to be complete in summer 2027 ahead of an opening in early autumn.
The report to committee said for the Union Street Central streetscape project – which will provide enhanced public realm from Union Terrace to Market Street – there has been additional work required to deal with the removal of undocumented and redundant utilities and the complex vaulted structures since work on the site started.
Given current measures taken to mitigate issues and delay, current programme estimates indicate completion in late summer 2026.
For the beach park, the report stated it will provide a significantly sized outdoor destination within the beachfront context. The core play park is part of the wider landscape masterplan and facilitates connections back to the city centre. It will also have the events park of 2.5 hectares which is intended as a flexible space capable of holding events including festivals, larger concerts, and gatherings. The events park will have the capacity to host 11,000 people for outdoor events.
Works are on programme to date with above ground works now progressing across the vast majority of the site. Progress over the next three months will consider the internal fit-out of all buildings, soft and hard landscaping, play equipment installation and progression of the internal fit out of the play structure.
Aberdeen City Council finance and resources committee convener, councillor Alex McLellan said, “These projects represent a huge transformation of our city centre and beachfront to ensure Aberdeen remains a place people want to live, work, raise a family or do business. The works at the beachfront are creating a real sense of excitement – and I very much look forward to seeing it finished later this year.”
Council co-leader, councillor Ian Yuill, added, “Like everyone else, I want to see the work on these projects completed as soon as possible. The contractors are working hard to achieve that.”
