FUNDING to demolish the former Grampian Police headquarters has been approved by Aberdeen City Council.
The demolition of the building, which was constructed in 1975, is part of a redevelopment of the Queen Street area included in the local authority’s city centre and beach masterplan to transform Aberdeen.
The redevelopment of Queen Street includes the creation of a new urban park at its heart which will be developed through public engagement. The former police headquarters is earmarked for a rebuild for new uses which could include residential or office use.
The £15 million urban park is to be constructed including outdoor seating, informal performance spaces, a terraced garden, a sensory garden and enhanced street greening. It would also improve pedestrian and cycle movement between the city centre and the beach.
The Queen Street area along with the central section of Union Street and the new market building are critical components in the ‘heart of the city’ area of intervention identified in the approved city centre masterplan, which has the key objective to reinstate the central role of Union Street in the life of the city – establishing stronger linkages north and south and creating a destination not just for shopping but for many city activities.
Aberdeen City Council explained the decision to transform the Queen Street area to include a new urban park was based on a number of criteria aligning with the city centre masterplan – including the stimulation economic growth via increased footfall, affordability, and the contribution of a new green space to council’s net zero ambitions.
