June start date for multi-million pound Museum of Aberdeenshire project

The multi-million-pound project will be delivered by Hub North Scotland and Kier and marks a major milestone in the transformation of Peterhead town centre – breathing new life into the historic Arbuthnot House on Broad Street.

Over the next three years, a vibrant new cultural destination housing both the town’s library and the council’s first-ever shire-wide museum will be created on Broad Street centred around the vacant Arbuthnot House. The new museum will showcase the region’s extensive heritage collections and artwork, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to explore Aberdeenshire’s rich and diverse stories.

Permanent galleries will significantly expand the number of objects on public display, bringing many treasures out of storage for the first time. From natural history and archaeology to social history and art, the museum will offer space to tell both old and new stories and better reflect the ever-changing people and places that have shaped Aberdeenshire.

The new attraction, expected to open in late 2028, will feature purpose-built galleries, a dedicated temporary exhibitions space capable of hosting touring national shows, and flexible workshop and learning areas to support participation, education and community engagement. A new restaurant with an outdoor terrace and a small retail area will further enhance the visitor experience.

Creative interpretation will play a central role, with music, interactives, film and Doric language woven throughout the displays. A community gallery will enable regular changes to exhibitions and provide opportunities for local groups to co-curate displays, while a dedicated gallery will celebrate the heritage of Peterhead itself alongside stories from across the wider shire.

The project forms part of the council’s commitment of £150 million in investment for the town including construction of replacement Peterhead Academy.

However, the council last week made the difficult decision not to progress with the planned refurbishment of the former Public Library and Arbuthnot Museum building on St Peter Street as part of the town’s cultural quarter project.

Significantly increased construction and material costs associated with delivering the wider project have necessitated the reallocation of the council’s capital funding to ensure these main elements can proceed, it said.

Redirecting funding in this way will enable work to begin imminently on the flagship museum and library development, securing long-term cultural, educational and economic benefits for Peterhead and Aberdeenshire.

The local authority said it recognises the disappointment this announcement will bring, but it remains committed to working with stakeholders to identify future funding streams and ensuring the building enjoys a long new lease of life.

Aberdeenshire Council co-leader councillor Stewart Adams said, “I am delighted to hear that construction will begin in June on the new Peterhead Library and museum of Aberdeenshire, which will be a vibrant new space celebrating the people, stories and treasures that make our region truly one of a kind. This museum will be for everyone across the Shire and, thanks to our own significant investment and the generous external funding, we’re not just building a museum – we’re investing in the future of tourism, culture and the local economy in the north of Aberdeenshire.

“Of course it’s very disappointing that we have to announce our decision not to progress with the refurbishment of the former Public Library and Arbuthnot Museum building. Sadly, as is being felt across the UK and beyond, rising construction costs have forced us to make difficult choices to ensure we can still deliver the museum of Aberdeenshire and the new Peterhead Library. I want to stress that Aberdeenshire Council remains fully committed to its long-term vision for Peterhead and to delivering transformational educational and cultural infrastructure which will serve the local community for generations to come.”