Over £1 million is to be spent on regenerating Union Street in Aberdeen.

The Operation Union Street Rejuvenation is being led by the local authority and Aberdeen Inspired, the operator of the Business Improvement District.

The nine-month scheme involves:

• Upgrading/removing/fixing/painting street furniture, all bollards, railings, planters and benches

• A professional clean of St Nicholas Kirkyard façade (Smith’s Screen) and painting all railings and gates

• Resurfacing of the south pavement of Union Bridge

• Purchase of extra cleaning equipment

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• A survey to ascertain the condition of buildings on Union Street

• Recruiting a building standards officer for one year

Other plans include preserving historic buildings and pedestrian priority on a section of Union Street.

The council has bid for £1.5m from Historic Environment Scotland to help repair and preserve key buildings on Union Street, while a further £1.5m has been set aside as match funding should the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme bid be successful.

Council Leader Marie Boulton said: "Many people who took part in the City Centre Masterplan consultation asked that Union Street be made a priority project.

"We responded to that call by agreeing a package of works totalling more than £1 million to clean and enhance the historic heart of our city.

"We want to bring Union Street back to the standard expected for the main thoroughfare of a leading energy city through an increase in economic and social activity. This is the start of a journey to transform Union Street and the rest of the city along with it."

(LM/CD)