Aberdeen City Council has allocated £500,000 to assemble a team to progress the vision as well as actions aimed at increasing the number of city centre homes.
The City Centre Masterplan, which was unanimously approved by Council in 2015, envisages Queen Street as a new mixed-use neighbourhood with a cultural component. It aims to deliver 1,500 new homes and boost the population by 3,000.
The site footprint includes Police Scotland; Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service; Aberdeen City Council; and the University of Aberdeen. A draft development framework, which has formed the basis of discussion between public sector partners, is being finalised.
Options could include building a new city mortuary at Foresterhill Health Campus; the possible demolition of the Aberdeen Police Scotland headquarters; the relocation of the Council Chamber to the Mitchell Hall at the rear of Marischal College or alternatively using the Kings College conference facilities; and creating a new justice centre for Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.
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The redevelopment of Queen Street could allow the Council and Police Scotland to co-locate within the Council's property estate to offer a multi-agency service.
City Centre Masterplan spokesperson Councillor Marie Boulton said: "The vision for Queen Street reflects the partnership approach needed for successful placemaking and economic growth.
"Increasingly businesses are returning to city centres and we can do our bit by helping deliver homes, improving the public realm, and creating the conditions where communities and commerce can flourish.
"We have a unique opportunity in Aberdeen to do something really special by working with public sector partners to create a dynamic, inclusive urban quarter, whilst at the same time improving our own services.
"With Queen Street and other developments in the pipeline, Aberdeen can be at the forefront of the international drive to attract new investment from which the city and residents can benefit enormously."
Masterplan projects have included the Marischal Square hotel and office complex and the redevelopment of Broad Street as well as the regeneration of Union Terrace Gardens, which is currently out to tender.
Proposals for the next stage of delivery of the Masterplan – approved this week by the City Growth and Resources Committee – were informed by the City Centre Living Study, which had recommended that the Council form a dedicated city living team and treat Queen Street as a flagship project.
Today the Planning Development Management Committee supported a recommendation from officers to waive the affordable housing contribution in the city centre for the next two years.
(CM/LM)
