A planning application has been made for the comprehensive regeneration and restoration of the disused and derelict Broadford Works, the largest collection of Category 'A' Listed buildings at risk in Scotland.

Drawing of the developed site. The proposed planning strategy will restore the vast and complex site to allow for a mix of uses that will benefit the people of Aberdeen. Proposals include residential development, retail space, places to eat, a nursery, and the creation of new and meaningful public spaces that will allow this abandoned site not only to be brought back to life but to be publicly accessible for the first time in its history.

A cross-sector 'Steering Group', led by The Prince's Regeneration Trust, has put together the proposed strategy which will be delivered in phases over time. Other members of this group include site owner Ian Suttie, Aberdeen City Council, Historic Scotland, Tenant First House Co-operative, and Scotland's leading firm of architects and planning consultants, Halliday Fraser Munro. The National Trust for Scotland Little Houses Improvement Scheme has been involved in later stages of the Steering Group. The strategy has required a great deal of consideration and attention to detail due to the size and complexity of the site and to ensure that the proposed scheme is viable and meets community needs while respecting and celebrating the site's industrial heritage.

The 3.5 hectare site has over 100 buildings and stands close to the heart of Aberdeen, its eye-catching chimneys and tall mill buildings a distinctive feature of the city sky-line, yet it has stood redundant and neglected for the last seven years.It is rich in industrial heritage as the principal six textile Mill buildings, largely constructed of granite and brick, document the history of flax manufacturing in Aberdeen from the early nineteenth-century.One of the most historically and architecturally significant buildings is the Grey Mill (1808), which has suffered hugely from vandalism and theft and as the oldest iron-framed mill in Scotland, the fourth oldest in the world, it is imperative that urgent repair work can go ahead.

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Commenting on how the Steering Group has benefited Broadford Works, Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The Prince's Regeneration Trust said: "This planning application is hopefully the start of regenerating this impressive industrial heritage site and bringing it back into the community for people to enjoy. The Steering Group members all bring a set of expertise and experience that make it an excellent vehicle to ensure the proposed development honours the site's industrial heritage while creating a contemporary mixed-use site that will greatly improve the facilities and opportunities available to the people of Aberdeen."

The owner of Broadford Works, Ian Suttie said: "The support given to this application has been extremely helpful for all participants. Each party has been able to present their priorities in a spirit of reaching a workable consensus." Drawing of the developed site.

Mike Scott, Senior Heritage Management Officer, Historic Scotland, welcomes the planning application: "We are very pleased to see the submission of these renewed proposals for the regeneration of the nationally important Broadford Works site. Given the large number of listed buildings involved and complexity of the site, we support the proposed planning strategy and have welcomed the opportunity to be part of the Steering Group, led by The Prince's Regeneration Trust. We look forward to working further with the Steering Group members and the community as the planning and listed building proposals progress."

Aberdeen City Council's director of enterprise, planning and infrastructure, Gordon McIntosh, said: "The city council has always been supportive of regenerating the former Broadford Works site.

"There has always been a tremendous appetite to transform such a historic industrial site in the city so that it can be enjoyed by the people of Aberdeen for years to come.

The formation of the Steering Group has brought together a tremendous amount of expertise and experience, which has enabled the group to tackle several major challenges facing this project. The Steering Group has made tremendous progress and Aberdeen City Council looks forward to continuing its work with its partner agencies."

John Halliday, chief executive of Halliday Fraser Munro said: "We have worked closely with The Prince's Regeneration Trust for the last 18 months to produce viable design solutions to enable such an important and historical site as Broadford Mill to be developed into an active and attractive part of Aberdeen city."

(GK)