Plans to upgrade Aberdeen's historic Duthie Park have been supported unanimously by city councillors.

The planning applications were submitted by Aberdeen City Council as part of the proposed £5.38 million scheme to breathe new life into the popular park.

Aberdeen City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) are joint funders of the project to restore the 44-acre Victorian park to its former glory by:

* renovating the historic rose mound;

* re-instating the three linked ponds;

* restoring the Duthie fountain to full working order in its original setting;

* re-creating the lost Victorian promenade.

The five detailed schemes approved by Development Management Sub-committee members are:

* reinstatement of the former circular pond and paths; recreation of the historic terracing south of the obelisk; restoration of the road inside the southern boundary to its original width;

* restoration of the pavilion and the addition of a disabled ramp; conversion of the tennis courts to community gardens; creation of a new arbour, games lawn and community events green;


* restoration of the linked lakes; creation of a natural bog area in middle pond; restoration of the stone shelter, with reinstatement of the original castellated roof; reformation of paths and steps near the lower pond;

* restoration of boundary features, railings, missing granite pillars and gates at the main park entrances; alterations to the car park to change the layout and increase capacity to approx 75 spaces;

* restoration of the rose mound area to its original profile and layout; formation of a spiral footpath and summit flagpole; restoration of the original footpaths; removal of non-original paths; creation of a biodiversity path in the woodland area at the north-west corner of the park.

HLF's Parks For People fund awarded the project £71,500 for Stage 1 development last year – matched by £74,700 from the City Council – and agreed in principle to award full Lottery funding of £2.56million once a finalised programme has been approved. That sum will be matched with £2.67million from Aberdeen City Council.

The City Council appointed Edinburgh-based Scott Wilson Ltd as lead consultants to draw up the detailed designs for the Stage 2 submission to the HLF, which is expected to reach a decision before the end of the year.

Development Management Sub-committee convener Cllr Kate Dean said: "The scheme will secure the restoration of so many of the original features of this wonderful park. My sub-committee was delighted to approve all the planning applications, which we hope will now pave the way for a successful outcome to the Stage 2 funding bid to the Lottery."

Duthie Park is one of the most popular parks in Scotland, with over half a million visitors a year. It was bequeathed to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie in remembrance of her brother and uncle and was opened in 1883 by Princess Beatrix.

(GK)