April 26 2019

Aberdeen City Council has selected infrastructure specialists Balfour Beatty to bring forward a fabled £25.7m overhaul of Union Terrace Gardens.

After numerous false starts work could finally begin in earnest on the project this summer to transform the sunken Victorian public space into a fully accessible amenity while retaining its distinctive heritage.

Plans led by LDA Design call for the creation of three pavilions at Union Street, Union Terrace and Rosemount Viaduct together with an accessible walkway direct from Union Street, landscaping, lighting and the refurbishment of historic arches along Union Terrace.

Further improvements will include lift access via a new entrance building on Union Terrace, the transformation of the central lawn into an events space and a reinstated ‘grand staircase’ from Rosemount Viaduct.

Council Co-Leader Councillor Jenny Laing added: “In progressing plans for Union Terrace Gardens we have listened to residents’ wishes while aiming to secure the best value for the city.

“UTG’s regeneration will complement other major infrastructure projects nearing completion, including the Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) and the redeveloped Aberdeen Art Gallery, both world-class facilities.”

Detailed designs will be finalised over the next three months with an expectation that the revamped gardens could complete by summer 2021.

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Sue Pearman on 26 Apr 2019 at 11:18 AM

Could a possible translation read: "We lack any money or ambition and have sought the views of those with little experience of quality public space in securing mediocrity for the city"..."this will join the other massively watered down average projects that we have procured"

#2 Posted by A Local Pleb on 26 Apr 2019 at 12:28 PM

It is good to see this investment in the city's public realm and it is right that joe bloggs feels engaged in the process of realising LDA's expert proposals.

#3 Posted by Don Diamante on 26 Apr 2019 at 16:20 PM

#2 Hopefully that’s subtle sarcasm!
I don’t believe this could be classed as an investment, nor do I believe that the local punter will feel engaged in what is essentially a ‘papering the cracks’ exercise by an out of town designer.
A typical investment should have a long term vision, plus have some form of ‘return-on-investment’, neither of which have been delivered in my opinion.
We will end up with new plants, additional huddle space, but generally the same old gardens. Fantastic in Victorian times, served their long term purpose, but now requires a radical overhaul to be deemed useable and worthwhile by modern standards.
Bring back the concrete web!

#4 Posted by Mies van der toe on 29 Apr 2019 at 16:18 PM

#3- agreed, without raising the levels or some form of pedestrianisation, to create a bigger forum, it is a pointless investment.

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