Aberdeen City Council has announced a £2,127,610 grant funding boost for its five-year Silver City Heritage and Place Programme, bringing the total investment to £5.4 million.

The funding comes from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland, which both granted £1,138,090. The grant will be added to the £2.1m earmarked by the council, along with a further £975,000 contribution from building owners.

The programme, part of the council's 20-year City Centre and Beach Master Plan, aims to address social, economic, and environmental issues in the eastern part of Aberdeen City Centre. The funding will support capital investment in historic buildings, public spaces, and green spaces, while also providing traditional skills training and community heritage activities.

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Councillor Alex McLellan, the council's Finance and Resources Committee Convener, said he was "delighted" that the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland were making such a "significant financial contribution". He said the £5.4m total would help deliver building repair grants to owners of historic buildings, with a focus on improving shopfronts along Justice Street.

Other areas to benefit from the programme include public realm and green spaces grants for the historic courts off the north of Castle Street, which will be complemented by capital building grants for Peacock's printworks and Seabury House. A new sensory garden and community growing space will also be created, alongside a community garden in Castlehill and an employability training project to repair the old bastion walls.

Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said the funding will support putting the heritage-led regeneration plan into action. Dr Susan O'Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, added that the programme would "empower the community of eastern Aberdeen" and highlighted the importance of training in traditional skills.